Team USA kept their World Cup run alive with a 76-66 semifinal win over Spain in Berlin Arena on Saturday, and the result again underlined why they have been the standard since 2006. The performance was not flawless, but it was controlled when it mattered, with Breanna Stewart leading the way and the Americans finishing strongly to book their place in the final against France.
For long stretches, Spain made this a real contest. The teams were level at 58-58 before Team USA produced the decisive burst, finishing the game with an 18-8 fourth quarter. That was the difference between a tense semifinal and another American step toward gold.
Stewart: keep doing the little things
Stewart led Team USA with 16 points and six rebounds, and after the game she pointed to the basics as the difference-maker. “Just continue to do the little things,” she said, adding that the key was “honing in on the rebounding, making sure that we were getting to the offensive glass. Defensively, we picked up in the second half.”
That is a fair summary of how Team USA won. This was not simply about shot-making. It was about staying connected, improving defensively after the break and doing enough in the areas that decide knockout games.
Stewart also made clear that the job is not finished yet. “This is going to be challenging, and obviously we have the biggest one tomorrow,” she said. “But that’s what we’re here. We’re going for gold, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
What the win says about Team USA
The numbers tell a straightforward story. Stewart’s 16 points and six rebounds set the tone, while Kahleah Copper added 13 points, Jackie Young had 12 points, and Sophie Cunningham chipped in with six points and five rebounds. Caitlin Clark finished with one point, one assist and one rebound, while Paige Bueckers was held to 0-for-3.
Spain never made it easy, but Team USA still found a way. Even after a slow stretch, they tightened up, became more decisive and pulled away when the game demanded it.
Kara Lawson’s message after the match was just as direct. She said Team USA needed to be “a little more precise in our coverages” and to “stay aggressive and stay calm.” That balance matters now more than ever, because the final will test them again.
Team USA have been here many times before, and their winning streak at this level dating back to 2006 explains why the expectation is always so high. But the route to another title is still there in front of them, and France now stands between them and gold.
