Team USA barely scraped by Spain, 76-66, in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup semifinals on Saturday, but they are absolutely headed to the gold medal game. This wasn’t some blowout, folks. The U.S. trailed by as many as eight early, even staring down their biggest deficit of the World Cup at 9-1 against Spain’s hot start. But when it counted most, a veteran stepped up and slammed the door shut, securing a shot at a fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal.
Stewie Owns the Clutch
When the offense got bogged down, and the game was tied heading into the final quarter, it was Breanna Stewart who put the team on her back. She powered an 18-8 fourth quarter that sealed the win. Stewart, playing in her record-tying fourth World Cup, was simply sensational. She finished with a team-high 16 points, shooting 4 for 6 on a day when buckets were hard to come by for almost everyone. Plus, she went 8 of 11 from the free throw line, practically doubling anyone else. Tack on 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, and you see why she is such a force. This veteran forward was the steadying hand, bringing the ball up, kicking out of the paint, snagging offensive boards, and drawing fouls. She now sits fifth all-time with 266 career World Cup points and is the only player to rank top five in points, rebounds, and assists for all USA players in Women’s World Cup history. This is her fourth gold medal game, and she’s got a real shot at becoming the first two-time World Cup MVP. With four NCAA, three WNBA, and three Olympic golds already in her trophy case, do you really think she’s gonna let this one slip?
The Newbies Flipped the Script Early
While Stewie brought it home, it was a group of fresh faces that ignited Team USA’s comeback earlier in the game. After falling behind 16-9 in the first quarter, the U.S. unleashed an incredible 18-2 run. This wasn’t the all-veteran lineup doing the damage. It was the “second group,” full of newbies led by Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, and Paige Bueckers, who absolutely flipped the script. Aliyah Boston, Angel Reese, and Jackie Young also got in on the action during that surge. They turned that 16-9 deficit into a 25-21 lead by the second quarter. These young players brought the energy and spark when the team needed it most, proving they are ready for this big stage.
Next up, it is the gold medal game on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Team USA is set for a rematch against France, who just took down home country Germany 86-64. You know France will come ready, but with Stewie playing like this and the young guns showing their fire, Team USA is locked in for that fifth straight gold. This is gonna be epic!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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