The last time Team USA beat Spain for gold, Breanna Stewart was there

Team USA is looking to keep its 34-game winning streak alive in the semifinals of the FIBA Women’s World Cup when it plays Spain in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The streak includes a championship game victory, 77-64, over Spain at the 2014 tournament in Turkey. Maya Moore, Tina Charles and Diana Taurasi led the U.S. back then. Still, one member of that team is on the 2026 roster − Breanna Stewart. She was still in college at UConn and the youngest member of the team.

The veteran of four World Cups − the other three gold medal wins for Team USA − is one of the veterans that helped right the ship after the near-loss to Italy in group stage last week. Now, Stewart hopes to help them advance to the championship game again.

“Any time I can represent Team USA I want to,” said Stewart, who is averaging 9.8 points and seven rebounds in the tournament. “I’ve had the incredible opportunity of being able to do it for a long time and since I was really young, and every time I get the call I want to show up.”

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers of United States at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

USA’s forward Angel Reese and Hungary’s Agnes Torok at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup quarterfinals.

(RONNY HARTMANN, AFP via Getty Images)

Hungary’s Nina Aho shoots past USA guard Jackie Young during the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(RONNY HARTMANN, AFP via Getty Images)

Team USA’s Napheesa Collier shoots over Czechia’s Eliska Joklova and Natalie Stoupalova during a group stage game at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

USA’s Caitlin Clark is challenged by Eliska Joklova of Czech Republic during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Germany 2026 match between USA and Czechia.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

USA’s Aliyah Boston of United States shoots over Gabriela Andelova and Eliska Joklova of Czech Republic during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup game.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

Team USA’s Caitlin Clark and Breanna Stewart at the FIBA Women’s World Cup.

(USA Basketball)

Angel Reese interacts with USA teammates during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Germany 2026 match between USA and Czechia.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

Breanna Stewart of United States is challenged by Monika Fucikova of Czech Republic during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

Aliyah Boston fights for the ball during in the group phase at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

USA’s Caitlin Clark plays against Italy in the World Cup.

(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

USA’s Angel Reese during a game between the United States and Italy in the group phase at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

USA’ Caitlin Clark and Italy’ Francesca Pasa fight for the ball during a game between The United States and Italy in the group phase at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

USA’ Caitlin Clark pictured during a game between The United States and Italy in the group phase at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Italy’s Lorela Cubaj and USA’ Napheesa Collier fight for the ball during a game between the United States and Italy.

(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Team USA’s Kiki Iriafen goes up for a basket against Czechia’s Petra Malikova and Julie Pospisilova during their group game at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

USA’s Caitlin Clark looks on prior to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup game.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark of USA dribbles under pressure from Yujie Chen of China during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

China’s Shuyu Yang and USA’s Jackie Young fight for the ball during the Women’s World Cup.

(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark of United States and teammates huddle prior to the Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

Team USA’s bid to win a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medal is off the good start after a convincing a 94-61 win over China.

(USA Basketball)

Fan of Caitlin Clark looks on prior to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark of USA celebrates with Rhyne Howard during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark of USA in action agains Luo Xinyu of China during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

China’s forward Luo Xinyu is blocked by USA’s guard Caitlin Clark during the FIBA Women’s World Cup.

(JOHN MACDOUGALL, AFP via Getty Images)

The USA Women’s National Team during practice before the FIBA Women’s World Cup.

(Juan Ocampo, NBAE/Getty Images)

Caitlin Clark trains with Team USA ahead of the FIBA World Cup.

(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Jackie Young of USA shoots during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

(Maja Hitij, Getty Images)

USA’ Caitlin Clark pictured during a game between the national teams of The United States and China.

(VIRGINIE LEFOUR, BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

USA’s Jackie Young scores during the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Group.

(JOHN MACDOUGALL, AFP via Getty Images)

Here is the Team USA roster: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark

(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)

Phoenix Mercury guard-forward Kahleah Copper

(Daniel Kucin Jr., Imagn Images)

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart

(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese

(Colin Hubbard, Imagn Images)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier

(Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images)

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young

(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard

(Colin Hubbard, Imagn Images)

Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers

(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)

Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston

(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray

(Candice Ward, Imagn Images)

Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron.

(Daniel Kucin Jr., IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen.

(Lucas Peltier, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

The United States has won four consecutive World Cup golds. As the game grows in other countries, the level of competition has improved. The USA famously escaped with a gold medal in at the 2024 Paris Olympics by one point over France. The French face Germany in the other semifinal on Saturday and could set up a rematch.

“There’s a ton of pressure, on Team USA and on us and embracing that,” Stewart told The Associated Press. “Not having the team face it in a bad way, but understanding the ones that have been before us and what they’ve done. We want to continue to have success every time.”

Team USA is playing in its 11th consecutive semifinal with its winning streak in the competition stretching 20 years. Its last loss came in the 2006 semifinals against Russia.

Stewart has been part of the starting five for all four games of the tournament, joining Team USA veterans Napheesa Collier, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper and Chelsea Gray. Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have been among the first players off the bench.

Spanish center Megan DiLeo, who also played college ball at Iowa and won player of the year honors, asked if having Clark come off the bench is an advantage.

“I don’t think so,” DiLeo said. “I think she’s just a great player. It doesn’t really matter when she goes into the game. She’s going to make a good impact.

“We just got to be ready for her and for the rest of the roster. They’re talented. They’re deep. It kind of doesn’t really matter who comes in. We just have to be at our top defensively and offensively.”

Collier is leading Team USA in scoring, averaging 10.3 points a game. Reese is grabbing six rebounds a game and Clark is doling out seven assists.

Spain is led by Iyana Martin, who is averaging 16.5 points. Awa Fam is adding 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds.

USA roster

Assistant coaches: Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts, Stephanie White

Pos.	No.	Name	Age	Height	Club
G	4	Paige Bueckers	24	6’0″	Dallas Wings
G	5	Sonia Citron	22	6’1″	Washington Mystics
SF	6	Rhyne Howard	25	6’2″	Atlanta Dream
G/F	7	Kahleah Copper	32	6’1″	Phoenix Mercury
G	8	Chelsea Gray	33	5’11”	Las Vegas Aces
PF	9	Kiki Iriafen	23	6’3″	Washington Mystics
PF	10	Breanna Stewart	32	6’3″	New York Liberty
SF	11	Napheesa Collier	29	6’1″	Minnesota Lynx
G	12	Caitlin Clark	24	6’0″	Indiana Fever
G	13	Jackie Young	28	6’0″	Las Vegas Aces
C	14	Aliyah Boston	24	6’5″	Indiana Fever
PF	15	Angel Reese	24	6’3″	Atlanta Dream

Spain roster

Head coach: Miguel Méndez
Assistant coach: Cristina Cantero, Raquel Romo, Anna Montañana

Pos.	No.	Name	Age	Height	Club
G	2	Elena Buenavida	22	5’9″	Valencia Basket
PG	4	Mariona Ortiz	34	6’0″	Basket Zaragoza
G	5	Maite Cazorla	29	5’10”	USK Praha
SF	7	Alba Torrens	37	6’4″	AzulMarino Palma
SF	9	Helena Pueyo	25	6’0″	Valencia Basket
SF	10	Maria Conde	29	6’3″	Toronto Tempo
C	11	Awa Fam	20	6’4″	Seattle Storm
C	14	Raquel Carrera	24	6’3″	New York Liberty
C	17	Megan DiLeo	29	6’4″	Portland Fire
PG	18	Alicia Flórez	22	5’9″	Washington Mystics
C	20	Paula Ginzo	28	6’2″	Žabiny Brno
PG	44	Iyana Martín	20	5’9″	Spar Girona