USA survive Spain scare to set up Olympic final rematch with France at Fiba World Cup
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Four-time defending champions beat Spain 76-66
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Stewart scores 16 as USA pull away in fourth
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Americans to face France in rematch of Paris final
The United States advanced to the Fiba Women’s Basketball World Cup final for the fifth consecutive time, pulling away in the fourth quarter to beat Spain 76-66 on Saturday in Berlin.
Breanna Stewart scored 16 points and Kahleah Copper added 13 for the four-time defending champions, who were tied at 58 entering the fourth quarter before finally taking control. Jackie Young added 12 points.
Spain led 13-4 midway through the first quarter and trailed only 39-36 at halftime. María Conde and Iyana Martín hit three-pointers early in the third as Spain erased the deficit, while Martín’s two free throws with 53 seconds left sent the game into the fourth tied at 58.
Copper and Young scored to open the fourth before Stewart helped the US create separation. The Americans stretched their lead to eight with just over six minutes remaining before Young’s steal and layup made it 76-64 with 1:42 left.
Conde and Martín scored 17 points apiece for Spain, who held the Americans to 40% shooting. The US made only three of 18 three-point attempts, while Caitlin Clark finished with one point and missed all three of her shots from beyond the arc.
The victory extended the Americans’ World Cup winning streak to 35 games. The US, unbeaten at the tournament since a semi-final loss to Russia in 2006, will face France in Sunday’s final after the French defeated host Germany 86-64.
The hotly anticipated final will be a rematch of the 2024 Olympic gold medal game, where the US escaped with a 67-66 victory after France’s Gabby Williams stepped on the three-point line on a potential tying shot at the buzzer.
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