The USA ladies’s basketball workforce dominated Hungary within the quarterfinal of the FIBA World Cup on Thursday morning, beating them 108-56.
Just some hours after that massive win, Group USA already has its subsequent task within the FIBA World Cup: a matchup towards Spain within the semifinal spherical, on Saturday, September 12, at 2 PM ET.
Spain is coming off a dominant 89-66 victory over Australia within the quarterfinal spherical. They went 2-1 within the group stage, producing a 30-point blowout win towards Germany of their first recreation, then suffered a stunning upset defeat to Mali of their second recreation, after which bounced again and received their group with a 20-point win towards Japan.
The winner of this recreation will face the winner of France vs. Germany, which takes place on that Saturday morning, on Sunday, September 13, at 2 PM ET.
However earlier than Group USA can take into consideration that championship recreation, they will want to organize for this upcoming matchup towards Spain, which comes with its personal distinct set of challenges.
What to Know About Spain Earlier than They Face Group USA
Spain is one in all Europe’s greatest ladies’s basketball groups and options seven gamers who’re both present or former WNBA gamers (Elena Buenavida, Raquel Carrera, Maria Conde, Maite Cazorla, Megan DiLeo, Awa Fam, and Alicia Florez).
Additionally they have Iyana Martín, a 20-year-old guard whom the Portland Hearth chosen with the No. 6 decide of the 2026 WNBA Draft. Martín elected to remain abroad as an alternative of coming to Portland as a rookie, though the Hearth nonetheless maintain her rights.
Martín has been wonderful in the course of the FIBA World Cup, averaging 17.3 factors and three assists per recreation. She and Awa Fam (whom the Seattle Storm chosen with the No. 2 decide within the 2026 WNBA Draft) are Spain’s two greatest gamers, and the workforce’s offense runs by way of them.
However Spain additionally has strong depth in Conde (who performs for the Toronto Tempp) and Florez (who performs for the Washington Mystics). Many of those gamers have been enjoying for Spain for a very long time, and the workforce has a whole lot of chemistry and cohesion because of this. This would possibly assist them make up for the clear expertise hole between them and the Group USA roster.
Whereas Spain does pose a strong menace, Group USA should not have any drawback dispatching them in the event that they carry out as much as their capabilities of their semifinal showdown.
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