World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Team USA survives Spain in toughest test yet

Two of the top teams in the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament faced off on Tuesday, and the USA Women’s National Team used the opportunity to remind the world that it is the team to beat, taking home an 84-70 win over Spain and finishing the tournament 5-0. Kahleah Copper (185-G/F-1994, college: Rutgers) led all scorers with 20 points, shooting 7-12 (.583) from the field and 4-7 (.571) from three. Kelsey Plum (173-PG-1994, college: Washington) was not far behind, finishing with 18 points and sinking three of her four attempts from deep. “Whatever the game needs is what I need to bring,” Plum said. “That’s who I am, and that’s what I’m called to be on this team.” The U.S. knew going in that the game had the potential to be its most challenging of the tournament, and Spain wasted little time proving that assumption correct—there were five lead changes in just the first four minutes of play. “We knew we were going to get Spain’s best shot, right, they’re a very good team,” lead coach Nate Tibbetts said. “I thought we really stepped it up in the second half, and then, overall very, very pleased with the tournament.” Dearica Hamby (190-F-1993, college: Wake Forest, agency: LBM Management) got off to a hot start, scoring six of USA’s first 10 points, but Megan Gustafson (193-C-1996, college: Iowa) and Raquel Carrera (188-C-2001) were there at every turn with a response for Spain. Gustafson made a layup with just under five minutes remaining in the opening quarter to put her team up 11-8. USA went on a quick 6-0 run but Spain fought back, and Helena Pueyo (183-G-2001, college: Arizona)’s layup with two minutes left in the frame put the Spanish up 15-14. That was the final time Spain would hold a lead, though. Caitlin Clark (183-PG-2002, college: Iowa) drew a foul and sank two free throws, then hit a three from way downtown. Angel Reese (190-F-2002, college: LSU) finished the quarter with a hook shot over her defender, putting USA up 21-16 at the end of the first. “It’s always an honor to wear USA—I think any time you get to play the best players in the world, it’s an honor,” Plum said. “We have a lot of young talent, and the United States is in great hands.” Spain tied the game twice in the first 2:03 of the second quarter, but Plum responded with back-to-back baskets and Paige Bueckers (183-G-2001, college: UConn) broke away for a transition layup that put USA up 30-23 and forced Spain to call a timeout. The Americans kept things rolling for the remainder of the half. Hamby remained dominant in the paint, grabbing an offensive rebound and putting it back up for a 10-point USA lead with 3:13 to go in the half—she finished with 14 points to go along with seven rebounds and a game-high four steals. Two free throws from Gustafson cut USA’s advantage to 10 with a minute to go in the second quarter, but a layup from Jackie Young (183-PG-1997, college: Notre Dame) sent the Americans into their locker room with a 44-32 lead. The game was still in reach for Spain as the second half began. Copper came out of the locker room on fire, though, helping the U.S. balloon its lead. She scored back-to-back buckets in the first 2:12 of the third quarter, then nailed another three with 14 seconds left to send the U.S. into the final quarter up 61-47. Maite Cazorla (178-SG-1997, college: Oregon) nailed a jumpshot to start the fourth quarter on a strong note for the Spanish, but Copper could not be stopped. She hit a 3-pointer, then a pull-up jumper on the very next possession to stretch USA’s lead to 66-49. Plum and Hamby stayed hot, combining for 12 points in the final frame as the Americans ran away with the win and will head home from the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament on a high note. “We’ve got room to grow, we’re going to continue to get better, and I’m just really proud of how we competed at this tournament,” Tibbetts said.
Courtesy of: usab.com