Breanna Stewart, USA aim to extend FIBA World Cup win streak vs. Spain

Team USA is looking to keep its 34-game winning streak alive in the semifinals of the FIBA Women’s World Cup when it plays Spain in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The streak includes a championship game victory, 77-64, over Spain at the 2014 tournament in Turkey. Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Diana Taurasi led the U.S. back then. Still, one member of that team is on the 2026 roster − Breanna Stewart. She was still in college at UConn and the youngest member of the team.

The veteran of four World Cups − the other three gold medal wins for Team USA − is one of the veterans that helped right the ship after the near-loss to Italy in group stage last week. Now, Stewart hopes to help them advance to the championship game again.

“Any time I can represent Team USA I want to,” said Stewart, who is averaging 9.8 points and seven rebounds in the tournament. “I’ve had the incredible opportunity of being able to do it for a long time and since I was really young, and every time I get the call I want to show up.”

The United States has won four consecutive World Cup golds. As the game grows in other countries, the level of competition has improved. The USA famously escaped with a gold medal in at the 2024 Paris Olympics by one point over France. The French face Germany in the other semifinal on Saturday and could set up a rematch.

“There’s a ton of pressure, on Team USA and on us and embracing that,” Stewart told The Associated Press. “Not having the team face it in a bad way, but understanding the ones that have been before us and what they’ve done. We want to continue to have success every time.”

Team USA is playing in its 11th consecutive semifinal with its winning streak in the competition stretching 20 years. Its last loss came in the 2006 semifinals against Russia.

Stewart has been part of the starting five for all four games of the tournament, joining Team USA veterans Napheesa Collier, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper and Chelsea Gray. Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have been among the first players off the bench.

Spanish center Megan DiLeo, who also played college ball at Iowa and won player of the year honors, asked if having Clark come off the bench is an advantage.

“I don’t think so,” DiLeo said. “I think she’s just a great player. It doesn’t really matter when she goes into the game. She’s going to make a good impact.

“We just got to be ready for her and for the rest of the roster. They’re talented. They’re deep. It kind of doesn’t really matter who comes in. We just have to be at our top defensively and offensively.”

Collier is leading Team USA in scoring, averaging 10.3 points a game. Reese is grabbing six rebounds a game and Clark is doling out seven assists.

Spain is led by Iyana Martin, who is averaging 16.5 points. Awa Fam is adding 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds.

USA roster 

• Head coach: Kara Lawson 

• Assistant coaches: Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts, Stephanie White 

Spain roster

• Head coach: Miguel Méndez
• Assistant coach: Cristina Cantero, Raquel Romo, Anna Montañana