For three quarters, Spain had Team USA staring straight at the end of a dynasty. Then, the Americans finally slammed the door.

Team USA pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 76-66 win over Spain on Saturday, advancing to the FIBA Women’s World Cup final and extending a World Cup winning streak that dates back to 2006.

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Spain kept the pressure on nearly all afternoon and had the game tied 58-58 entering the fourth quarter. But the Americans saved their best basketball for last, winning the final period 18-8.

Breanna Stewart led Team USAwith 16 points and 6 rebounds, while Kahleah Copper added 13 and Jackie Young finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Young was especially important late, scoring 6 of her 12 points in the fourth quarter as the U.S. finally created some separation.

Afterward, Stewart said the difference was sticking with the fundamentals as the pressure mounted.

\"Just continue to do the little things,\" Stewart said. \"Honing in on the rebounding, making sure that we were getting to the offensive glass. Defensively, we picked up in the second half.\"

Stewart also made clear the Americans understand what’s next.

\"This is going to be challenging, and obviously we have the biggest one tomorrow,\" she said. \"But that’s what we’re here. We’re going for gold, and that’s what we’re going to do.\"

TEAM USA COACH KARA LAWSON SPEAKS OUT ON PROGNOSTICATORS AFTER DOMINANT FIBA WORLD CUP WIN OVER HUNGARY

The win was far from pretty.

Team USA shot 40% from the field and 3-for-18 from 3-point range, while committing 15 turnovers. The Americans also managed only 9 assists after entering the semifinal withCaitlin Clark leading the teamin that category.

Clark, who once again came off the bench, finished with just 1 point, 1 assist and 1 rebound while going 0-for-3 from the field.Paige Bueckersscored 6 points, while Angel Reese added 5.

At halftime, with the U.S. leading only 39-36, head coach Kara Lawson said her team needed to be \"a little more precise in our coverages\" and noted that uncharacteristic turnovers had cost the Americans opportunities. She added that the team needed to \"stay aggressive and stay calm.\"

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Spain got 17 points apiece from Maria Conde and Iyana Martín, but managed only 8 points in the decisive fourth quarter.

Now Team USA’s quest for a fifth consecutive World Cup championship moves on to the final against France. Stewart called France \"a really tough team\" and said the Americans would quickly turn the page after surviving Spain.

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Jackie Young added 12 points.\n\nSpain 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.\n\nCopper 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.\n\nConde 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.\n\nThe victory extended the Americans’ World Cup winning streak to 35 games. 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Lawson believes the team's success can create unity across the nation, providing a reason for Americans to come together. 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Team USA women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson hopes her team can give Americans another reason to unite during an emotional weekend for the country.

TheU.S.advanced to the FIBA Women’s World Cup championship game with a 76-66 victory over Spain in Berlin on Saturday, one day after the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Lawson said after the USA's semifinal win overSpainthat winning the championship would carry added meaning after the somber anniversary.

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\"I think, you know, being a part of USA Basketball for so long, there’s a great pride in it,\" Lawson said. \"I mean, from when I was 17 years old until now, being a part of it in different capacities, you know, I think—I don’t know if there’s anyone prouder to represent the U.S. than I am in this capacity.

\"And so we think about that. And I felt the presence of the U.S. here, even though we are in Europe. I felt it, and certainly felt it yesterday in 9/11 and, you know, a somber anniversary.\"

The 2001 terrorist attacks killed nearly 3,000 people in New York City, at the Pentagon and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Americans marked the milestone Friday with remembrance ceremonies across the country.

Lawson called the anniversary a \"powerful memory\" that remains with her and the team beyond one day.

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\"And it’s something that was, you know, a powerful memory, and something that is on our minds, certainly on that day, but really other days as well,\" Lawson said. \"It would mean a ton to win a World Cup for our country. We’re proud to be Americans, and we’re proud to represent USA. And to win a World Cup would be an amazing thing.\"

Lawson also said the team’s potential influence reaches beyond a women’s basketball community that has experienced heated rivalries and divisions in recent years.

\"And as far as unity, I think unity is not just exclusive to the women’s basketball community,\" Lawson said. \"I think it’s unity for our country as well.

\"I think our team hopefully is creating unity across our country. People being proud about how we play and how we represent the red, white and blue.\"

Lawson’s connection to USA Basketball began as a teenager. She later helped the Americans win an Olympic gold medal as a player at the 2008 Beijing Games.

She coached the U.S. to the inaugural women’s 3x3 basketball gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and served as an assistant on the team that won gold atthe 2024 Paris Games. USA Basketball selected Lawson in 2025 to lead the women’s national team through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

CAITLIN CLARK, ANGEL REESE SHOW UNITY FOR TEAM USA AT WORLD CUP AMID TENSE HISTORY

She is now one victory away from winning her first major international championship as the head coach of the five-on-five senior team.

The Americans had to fight for that opportunity Saturday.

Spain tied the semifinal at 58 entering the fourth quarter. The U.S. then held Spain to eight points in the final period and used a 12-2 run to pull away.

Breanna Stewartled Team USA with 16 points. Kahleah Copper added 13, while Jackie Young finished with 12.

The victory extended the Americans’ World Cup winning streak to 35 games. The U.S. has not lost in the tournament since falling to Russia in the 2006 semifinals.

Team USA will face France in Sunday’s championship game after the French defeated host Germany 86-64 in the other semifinal.

The matchup will be a rematch of the2024 Olympic gold-medal game in Paris. The U.S. escaped that contest with a 67-66 victory after France’s Gabby Williams made a shot with her foot on the 3-point line as time expired.

France entered the World Cup final undefeated and moved ahead of the U.S. in FIBA’s final power ranking after group play. The Americans are pursuing their fifth consecutive World Cup championship and 12th overall. France is appearing in its first World Cup final.

Faith has also remained an important part of the experience for Team USA guardPaige Bueckers.

Bueckers, who has spoken openly about her Christian beliefs throughout her college and professional career, was asked how important her relationship with Jesus Christ has been during the tournament.

\"My faith has always been important to me,\" Bueckers said. \"It’s carried me through life. It’s been my rock, my foundation. So, I take that with me wherever I go.\"

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U.S. Women Reach FIBA World Cup Final by Beating Spain

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