Spanish point guard Iyana Martín has emerged as one of the standout revelations of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. At just 20 years of age, the Oviedo native is pacing Spain’s backcourt with efficient scoring and poise on the international stage, setting a historic milestone as the first player under 21 years old to record consecutive 20-point games in the tournament this century.
Historic Scoring Surge in Berlin
Her stellar run anchors a roster that has already secured direct passage to the knockout rounds.
Group Phase Breakthrough
In that opener, the young guard contributed 12 points, two rebounds, and four assists in roughly 20 minutes of floor time. Her scoring output surged in the following two matches, establishing her as an indispensable piece of head coach Miguel Méndez’s rotation.
Against Mali, despite an 82-73 upset defeat for the Spanish side, Martín carried the offense with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. She followed that performance two days later by dropping another 20 points against Japan in a 59-79 victory that locked up the top spot in Group B and earned Spain a direct ticket to the quarterfinals.
Elite Efficiency off the Bench
Through her first three outings in the German capital, Martín averaged 17.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 steals in just 22 minutes per contest.
Her shooting efficiency stands out among the tournament leaders: she connects on 56.3 percent of her field goals, 43.8 percent from beyond the arc, and 90 percent from the free-throw line. In total, she accumulated 52 points across 66 minutes of total action, earning player-of-the-match honors for her display against Japan.
Rising Talent for Club and Country
National team coach Miguel Méndez publicly highlighted the impact of Martín alongside teammate Awa Fam, praising the fearless integration of the program’s younger generation into the senior setup. Born in Oviedo on Jan. 18, 2006, Martín stands 1.75 meters tall and currently plays club basketball for Spar Girona, following early development at Centro Asturiano de Oviedo and Alimerka OCB.
Rest and Quarterfinal Preparation
By winning Group B, Spain earned a vital two-day rest period while awaiting the winner of the qualification playoff between Italy and Australia. The Spanish squad enters Thursday’s quarterfinal match with fresh legs and a clear path toward the tournament, backed by the record-setting production of their young player.
Spain plays its quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 11:30 a.m. local time in Berlin, facing the winner of the Italy-Australia playoff.
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