Spain to Face USA in Women’s Basketball World Cup Semifinals After Dominating Australia

The matchup follows a masterclass against the Opals, where Spanish tactical decisions capitalized on an Australian squad playing with a shortened nine-player rotation.

Tactical Mastery and Bench Depth Against Australia

Entering the quarterfinal without their injured captain Ezi Magbegor—who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during the Round of 16 against Italy—Australia faced an uphill battle.

The opening quarter set the tone for the match. When Australia’s Stephanie Reid opened the scoring with three successful three-pointers, Spain immediately answered through Iyana Martín, who matched the triples shot-for-shot. Gustafson wreaked havoc inside the paint, while Alba Torrens and Raquel Carrera picked up the baton off the bench. Spain shot an exceptional 5-of-7 from beyond the arc in the opening frame, adding a zero-turnover quarter with seven assists to secure a commanding 31-17 lead.

Though Australia mounted a brief 8-2 run early in the second period, Méndez’s squad maintained offensive composure. Operating at over 70% efficiency from three-point range during key stretches, the Spanish zone defense completely paralyzed the Australian offense. The defensive scheme forced 19 turnovers while Spain dominated the glass with 20 rebounds to Australia’s 11, stretching the halftime advantage to 58-37.

Stat Line Dominance and Quarterfinal Breakdowns

The defensive intensity escalated in the third quarter as Spain clamped down on Australian possessions, limiting both teams in a low-scoring 14-12 frame that brought the score to 70-51. The game concluded with a decisive 89-66 scoreboard in favor of the Spanish side.

Individual contributions highlighted the depth of the roster. Megan Gustafson led the scoring effort with 16 points, while Iyana Martín and Alex Wilson notched 13 points apiece. María Conde added 10 points, and Alicia Florez contributed 10 points off the bench. Other notable contributors for Spain included Awa Fam and Raquel Carrera with 9 points each, Maite Cazorla with 8, Alba Torrens with 6, Paula Ginzo with 4, and Mariona Ortiz and Helena Pueyo with 2 points each.

For Australia, Bibby and Alex Wilson led the scoring with 13 points each, followed by Steph Talbot and Stephanie Reid with 11 points apiece. Isobel Borlase added 8 points, Miela Sowah chipped in 6, and Isabelle Bourne and Aokuso rounded out the sheet with 2 points each.

Semifinal Showdown Against the United States

The victory sets up a formidable test against the United States on Saturday.

While the United States remains the four-time defending champion, analysts note that the American squad has shown occasional vulnerabilities in Berlin. If Méndez’s team executes the same defensive discipline and perimeter accuracy displayed against Australia, an upset remains within reach.

In the tournament’s other semifinal matchup, France will square off against tournament hosts Germany at 16:30 local venue time (UTC+2) on Saturday. The winners of both semifinal fixtures will advance to the world championship final scheduled for Sunday at 20:00 local time.