Spain vs USA (sports match)
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The gist
Spain face the USA in the FIBA Women's World Cup semifinal on Sep 12 in Berlin.
The USA have won 34 straight World Cup games and four straight golds.
Background
The USA have won four consecutive World Cup golds and 34 straight games in tournament play, with their last loss coming in the 2006 semifinals against Russia. This is Team USA's 11th consecutive semifinal, a winning streak in the competition stretching 20 years. Spain went 2-1 in group play, beating Germany and Japan but losing to Mali, and are seeking their first-ever World Cup title and a fourth podium finish. The two teams have met five times in the World Cup, including three knockout meetings, and the USA have never lost to Spain.
How it unfolded
- Sep 10, 2026USA beat Hungary 108-56 in the FIBA World Cup quarterfinal.
- Sep 10, 2026Spain beat Australia 89-66 in the quarterfinal, with 16 points from Megan Gustafson, eight rebounds from Awa Fam and five assists from Maite Cazorla.
- Sep 12, 2026Spain vs. USA FIBA Women's World Cup semifinal, 2 p.m. ET, at Berlin Arena in Berlin, Germany.
- Sep 12, 2026France vs. Germany in the other semifinal, 10:30 a.m. ET.
- Sep 13, 2026Gold medal game, 2 p.m. ET, between the winners of USA-Spain and France-Germany.
Who’s saying what
- Party
- Spanish center Megan DiLeo said having Caitlin Clark come off the bench is not an advantage for Spain, calling her a great player who will make a good impact whenever she enters the game, and said Spain must be at their top defensively and off because the USA are talented and deep.
Still unverified
Spain's upset defeat to Mali in group play is described as surprising/uncharacteristic.