US Women Beat Spain 76-66 to Reach World Cup Final

Why this is trending right now

Sports search traffic spiked after the United States Women's National Basketball Team defeated Spain 76-66 in Berlin to advance to the gold-medal final of the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. Breanna Stewart scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Kahleah Copper added 13 points and Jackie Young scored 12. The victory extended USA's active winning streak to 35 consecutive games in World Cup play, dating back to 2006. The win sets up a championship final against France—an Olympic final rematch of their 67-66 thriller at the 2024 Paris Games.

The last 24 hours: a timeline

• Saturday, September 12 (18:00 UTC): Tip-off occurs at Berlin's Uber Arena between the United States and Spain.
• Saturday, September 12 (18:30 UTC): Spain takes an early 9-1 lead, marking the largest deficit faced by the Americans throughout the tournament.
• Saturday, September 12 (19:25 UTC): The contest enters the fourth quarter deadlocked at 58-58 after Spain's Maria Conde and Iyana Martin each reach 17 points.
• Saturday, September 12 (19:48 UTC): The United States executes a 12-2 defensive run, holding Spain to eight points in the final frame to finalize the 76-66 scoreline.
• Sunday, September 13 (10:00–12:00 UTC): Viewership data and tactical previews populate sports newsdesks ahead of the scheduled 17:15 UTC (1:15 PM EDT) tip-off between USA and France.

What could happen next

Head coach Kara Lawson faces direct tactical adjustments against France, who reached the final by defeating tournament host Germany 86-64. While the United States converted 27 of 35 free throws against Spain, the team struggled with field-goal continuity and outside shooting in half-court sets. France enters the contest with the highest three-point percentage in tournament play. If the United States secures victory on Sunday afternoon, it will capture its fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup title, tying the historical record established by the Soviet Union between 1959 and 1975.