Spain debuts with a resounding victory over Germany in the Women's Basketball World Cup

Spain returned to the Women's Basketball World Cup eight years later and did so with a knock on the table, a firm and resounding victory against the host Germany in Berlin by 83-53. Miguel Méndez's team celebrated an exhibition for its superiority on both sides of the field, its group sense of the game, the distribution of honors and the fun with which it knew how to compete. Nobody would say that 11 of the 12 players, all except Alba Torrens, were making their debut in a World Cup, just like the coach. The Spanish team was a whirlwind from start to finish and in which the performances of Iyana Martín (12 points and four assists), María Conde (13 points, four triples), Raquel Carrera (10 points and 10 rebounds) and Awa Fam (17 points) emerged.

Spain spread its sails in an overwhelming start in which it added in every corner of the field. Awa Fam exhibited her powerful physique under the hoop alongside Raquel Carrera, María Conde shot from the perimeter and at the controls of the ship Iyana Martín demonstrated that a huge player is hidden in that small body. The base showed off speed and vision of the game to connect the pieces. The associative and choral basketball of Spain, all united to defend and attack, very soon set the pace of the match against a Germany sustained by the warmth of its audience and the wrist of Fiebich. The German's triple was drowned out by Conde in the next play with the same response and buried by Iyana Martín with two more outside bingos in a row. The Spanish success was huge: 24-10 with six triples converted in seven attempts, three by Conde. Miguel Méndez then refreshed the team with the second unit (Buenavida, Mariona, Pueyo, Ginzo, Gustafson) and the offensive production stalled for a few minutes.

Nothing had changed in substance. The solidarity defense that Spain has written in its DNA remained firm on the Berlin parquet. Iyana returned to turn on the light with her infinite catalog of accelerations, changes of pace, dribbles and passes that few players invent. He mixed well that youthful impetus with the wisdom of Captain Alba Torrens. The generational leap has not changed the discourse. They all have it in mind that each individual movement must work in favor of the work. Germany didn't know where the blows were coming from or what water leak to cover. When he closed the access routes to Carrera and Awa Fam, the two Spanish centers came out of the cave to hit a triple each. María Conde continued doing her thing, adding three by three. Méndez distributed efforts and the Spanish stomp left its mark (50-24).

Spain had the match under control. Germany tried to raise the decibels of its game at the beginning of the third quarter in search of a comeback that seemed distant, but the team gritted its teeth even more. A ball cut by Maite Cazorla was celebrated by the Spanish guard with the fury of the winners. The game then moved into a timid exchange of baskets that benefited Méndez's team due to the good income they had amassed. The Spanish defensive wall barely left any cracks to dig into and the coach's dance of rotations allowed the peak of intensity to be sustained on both boards. Germany barely encouraged itself with a loose triple, little ammunition against the European runners-up (65-39).

Any doubt about the outcome was removed by Awa Fam with two other goals on the perimeter. The center who plays in the WNBA is one of the women who symbolize this cheeky Spain and who plays with a smile without losing an ounce of fierceness and without stopping sharing the ball (21 assists). Against Germany, in Berlin, under the tension of their World Cup debut, the team left a strong letter of introduction. Awa summed it up: “Here we are.”

In the other group match, Japan beat Mali 102-97 and set the record for three-pointers (20) in a women's World Cup match. The Africans are Spain's rival this Saturday (11.30, Teledeporte and Movistar).