USA 69, ESP 66
The 2023 USA Women's U19 National Team will leave Madrid with the gold medal after capturing the 2023 FIBA U19 Women's World Cup championship over Spain 69-66 on Sunday at Palacio de Deportes.
The game was tied at 66 with 28 seconds remaining and on the ensuing possession, Cotie McMahon scored the go-ahead basket on a spin to the rim with 22 ticks remaining. The USA defense thwarted any last second Spanish score to seal the victory in front of 7,033 fans.
The championship marks the second occurrence that a USA Women's U19 National Team defeated the host country in the Final. In 2015, the U.S. took down the Russians 78-70 in Chekhov, Russia.
The U.S. is 2-for-2 with head coach Joni Taylor leading the way. Taylor, the current head coach at Texas A&M University, helped the 2022 Women's U18 National Team win gold at 2022 FIBA Women's U18 Americas Championship in Buenos Aires.
Canada won the bronze medal by defeating France 80-73 in overtime earlier in the night.
The USA-Spain box score is available here.
TEAM NOTES
Gold Standard: The USA captured their third straight and 10th overall gold medal at FIBA U19 Women's World Cup competition. No other country has more than three gold medals. Including the U.S., the only other countries to win gold at the event are the Soviet Union (twice), Australia (once), Czech Republic (once) and Russia (once).
The End Of The Rainbow: The USA finished with an unblemished 7-0 record at the 2023 FIBA U19 Women's World Cup. The U.S. has a current 21-game winning streak at the competition, which includes the 2021 and 2019 championships. The 2023, 2021 and 2019 squads join 2015, 2013 and 2007 teams that won the gold medal without dropping a game in the tournament.
Golden Hour: The USA and Spain have matched up in the gold medal game three times, including tonight. The Americans won each of those games (69-46 in 2011; 87-71 in 2009) and carry an overall record of 9-2 against Spain in FIBA U19 World Cup play.
Heart Of Gold: It ended the same way it started for the U.S. with a starting lineup of Talana Lepolo, Kiki Rice, McMahon, Chloe Kitts and Grace VanSlooten. The USA starters set the tone for the USA's 7-0 record at the tournament.
Gold Blooded: The U.S. outrebounded the Spaniards 44-33, including 14-9 on the offensive end of the floor. The U.S. was superior on the boards in all but one game during the tournament (France, 40-43)
Golden Ticket: The USA shot 42.2% (27-64 FG) from the floor and 68.4% (13-19 FT) from the line. Spain shot just 40.6% (26-64 FG) from the field and 60.0% (9-15 FT) from the charity stripe.
PLAYER NOTES
All-Star Five: Joyce Edwards and Hannah Hildalgo were named to the tournament's All-Star Five. Edwards finished the tournament with 12.6 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game, while Hildalgo tallied 10.7 points per game, and 5.4 assists per game.
Go For Gold: Kitts led the way for the USA, falling just short of a double-double, with 15 points and nine rebounds. McMahon was was the top-scorer with 16 points, and Madison Booker pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
What's Next
2023 FIBA Men's World Cup | Aug. 25 - Sept. 10 | Philippines, Japan & Indonesia
A game recap will be published on usab.com