Spain suffered a 82-73 defeat against a combative Mali side in Berlin, stumbling through an uncharacteristically cold shooting night that leaves head coach Miguel Méndez’s squad scrambling for the top spot in their group. According to match reports, the squad was undone by severe perimeter struggles—converting just 4 of their 22 three-point attempts—and a dominant physical display from Mali, anchored by Sika Koné and Djeneba N’Diaye.
An Uphill Battle From the Opening Tip
The contest at the Max-Schmeling-Halle proved to be the exact opposite of Spain’s 83-53 blowout over host nation Germany in their tournament opener. Despite head coach Miguel Méndez deploying the same starting five, the Spanish squad looked visibly out of rhythm from the start. Mali immediately established a physical tone, jumping out to an 8-3 lead and forcing Méndez to stop the game.
Spain’s second unit provided a brief spark in the opening half, orchestrating an 8-0 run sparked by the energy of Buenavida and the interior presence of Gustafson. A clever, spinning hand-changed layup by Paula Ginzo briefly nudged Spain ahead at 19-20. By the end of a gritty second quarter, the Spanish side had clawed out a narrow 32-34 advantage at halftime, capitalizing on quick transition steals despite an ice-cold 0-of-10 shooting clip from beyond the arc over the first twenty minutes.
Mali’s Third-Quarter Surge and N’Diaye’s Mastery
The game unraveled for Spain in a chaotic third period where Mali poured in 31 points. Djeneba N’Diaye orchestrated the African side’s offense, finishing the night with 19 points while Sika Koné dominated the interior en route to a 23 efficiency valuation. Alicia Flórez finally snapped Spain’s agonizing three-point drought with a desperate buzzer-beater with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter, but the response was swift and devastating.
Mali answered with a barrage of four consecutive triples and a tough three-point play, forcing a wide 61-48 gap that left the Spanish bench searching for answers. The deficit ballooned to 14 points with just over six minutes left on the clock, exposing the heavy fatigue carrying over from the tournament’s demanding opening stretch.
Iyana Martín’s Late Heroics Fall Short
Iyana Martín tried to author a miraculous escape in the game’s dying minutes. Martín caught fire and shouldered the offensive load, scoring 16 points down the stretch to slice into Mali’s comfortable cushion. Yet, the furious late-game onslaught was not enough to complete the comeback.
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The arena itself featured a split personality: supporters waved red-and-yellow flags in support of ‘La Familia’, while sections of the German crowd rallied behind a Mali roster featuring several familiar faces from the Liga Femenina Endesa, including Sika Koné, Aminata Sangaré, and Dembélé.
Next Steps in the Group Stage
With the 82-73 upset in the books, Spain will look to regroup ahead of their final group stage fixture. Miguel Méndez’s team faces Japan on Monday with the first-place finish in the group still hanging in the balance.
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