The United States women’s basketball team has advanced to the World Cup final following a hard-fought 76-66 victory over Spain in Saturday’s semi-final match in Berlin. The win extends the American team’s tournament winning streak to 35 consecutive games, a run that has remained unbroken since their last semi-final loss in 2006.
The semi-final proved to be a significant challenge for the 11-time champions, who faced a resilient Spanish side that managed to tie the game at 58-all by the conclusion of the third quarter. However, the United States regained momentum in the final period, outscoring their opponents by 10 points to secure the win.
A Rematch for the World Title
Sunday’s final will feature a high-stakes rematch between the United States and France, echoing the gold medal game from the 2024 Paris Olympics, which the Americans won by a single point. While the U.S. team celebrated their advancement, the match saw Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark struggle under intense defensive pressure, finishing with one point and two turnovers.
France earned their place in the final after a dominant 86-64 victory over host nation Germany earlier on Saturday. Led by
French Ambitions and German Progress
Reflecting on the team's performance, Gabby Williams expressed a sense of urgency, telling BeIN Sports that she is playing with a singular focus to seize the opportunity. Teammate Marieme Badiane echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the French squad is fully committed to pursuing the championship title and remains undeterred by the prospect of facing the United States.
For Germany, the tournament represented a historic milestone, marking their first semi-final appearance as a unified nation. Although they were unable to overcome the French defense, the team remained within striking distance for much of the match, bolstered by three-pointers from Alexis Peterson and Emily Bessoir in the final quarter. France now prepares for the championship decider, aiming to secure their first World Cup trophy against the long-standing American program.
