Stewart's 16 and 266 Put USA in Its Fifth Straight Final

Photo: WNBA.com / New York Liberty. Official league headshot, 1040×760, full head.

USA beat Spain 76-66 and reached its fifth straight Women's World Cup final.

Breanna Stewart finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, and those 16 moved her to 266 career Women's World Cup points, past Cheryl Miller into fifth on the USA list. France is Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.

Berlin Arena watched the first Women's World Cup semifinal to enter the fourth tied at 58-58. Spain scored nine of the first 10 points. That 9-1 hole was the biggest deficit USA had faced all tournament, bigger than the three-point hole against Italy in the 55-52 escape. Newcomers closed the first with a 12-2 run, and the half somehow ended 39-36 with USA living at the line: 19 makes on 27 free throws against only 26 field-goal attempts. Spain's foul pressure never let the half settle into a shot chart. Game total for the Americans: 27-of-35 at the stripe. Spain went 10-of-11.

Kahleah Copper added 13. Jackie Young added 12. Iyana Martin put 17 on the Americans and became the youngest player to score more than 16 in a Women's World Cup semifinal. None of that held when USA scored 12 of the first 14 points of the fourth and hit 70-60 with 5:20 left. Spain got no closer than eight the rest of the way. Final 76-66.

Photo: USA Basketball. Breanna Stewart #10 with USA teammates during the Spain semifinal at Berlin Arena, Sep 12, 2026. Featured still from the official USAB recap, landscape 1600×1024, full head. Never stack with the headshot.

AP notes the previous four USA semis averaged a 26-point margin, including a 40-point Canada rout in 2022. Saturday asked for something else. Stewart is one win from a fourth World Cup title and is the only USA player in the top five all-time in World Cup points, rebounds, and assists. FIBA also flags her path to becoming the first two-time TISSOT Women's World Cup MVP after Tenerife eight years ago. The Americans have now won 35 straight World Cup games dating to the 2006 Russia semifinal loss.

Sunday is France at 2 p.m. ET. Paris 2024 ended by a point. Stewart already told the room the Olympic tape is closed. One more possession decides whether the Americans match the old Soviet Union for five straight World Cup titles.

Sources

• FIBA: Stewie still the standout guardian of USA's legacy — Stewart 16 PTS / 6 REB; 266 career WC points past Cheryl Miller (264) into 5th USA all-time; only USA player in top 5 pts/reb/ast WC history; first WC SF to enter Q4 tied; Iyana Martin 17, youngest 16+ in WC SF; path to two-time TISSOT MVP after Tenerife
• FIBA: Semi-Finals XTB Top Performers — Stewart 16/6/2; USA 76-66 Spain
• FIBA game page: Spain vs USA — game 128152; final 76-66
• AP via ABC: U.S. women top Spain 76-66 — Doug Feinberg; Stewart 16, Copper 13; 58-58 into Q4; USA 12 of first 14 to 70-60 at 5:20; Spain within 8 after; 9 of first 10 by Spain; 12-2 close of Q1; half 39-36; 19-of-27 FT half vs 26 FGA; 27-of-35 FT game; Spain 10-of-11 FT; 2014 WC gold rematch context; France rematch of Paris 2024 (won by 1); 2 p.m. ET Sunday
• AP via WRAL — prior four USA semis avg +26; 40-point Canada 2022; fifth consecutive title game
• ESPN: U.S. tops Spain — Young 12; Stewart turn-the-page line on Paris; USA 35 straight WC games since 2006 Russia SF loss
• USA Basketball: USA Advance after 76-66 Semifinal Win over Spain — official recap + featured still
• Photos: WNBA.com Stewart 1627668; USAB Spain SF featured still 5844e5a0