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00:00Three WNBA players in their starting fives, Maria Conde of the Toronto Tempo, Raquel Carrera of the New York Liberty,
00:08FIBA is her teammate in New York, Luisa Geisel-Suda, as well as Frida Buhner, an exciting young prospect of
00:15the Portland Fire.
00:20We're so glad to have you with us for coverage of the FIBA World Cup in Group A.
00:26Spain and Germany, of course, getting their first crack at it.
00:28Here's Olaf Leigh, associate head coach of the Toronto Tempo, a champion with the Liberty.
00:34His wife, Sandy Brondello, the head coach of the Australian national team.
00:38In Group A earlier this morning, Japan off to a 1-0 start.
00:42They drilled a FIBA record 23-pointers, Mali at 0-1.
00:50Germany playing in just its second World Cup.
00:53The only other time was when they hosted back in 1998.
00:56And for Spain, it was a shock, a surprise.
01:00They were not in the 2022 field.
01:03It ended a run of seven straight entries.
01:06So both countries with something to prove and want to really set the table strong in their first game of
01:11Group A.
01:11No question.
01:12In Spain, silver medal at last year's Eurobasket.
01:15But as you mentioned, as we heard Renee and our studio crew talk about just what it means to have
01:20that added level of pressure to be a host city.
01:23It's a great honor, a lot of pride.
01:25But for a German national team that's trying to put the pieces together, it's something that there's some levels of
01:33comfort and some levels that hopefully help your confidence.
01:37Spain in the white and yellow.
01:39Germany in the black uniforms with the gold trim along the jersey and the shorts.
01:45Chance of defense from the crowd at Berlin Arena.
01:49And we get a foul to open up play.
01:52And to the point about that defense, you're already seeing it out of the gates.
01:55This is a sizable German team.
01:58They've got a lot of length.
02:00There's a connectivity.
02:01And many of these players having a familiarity with the German system with one another.
02:07And you're going to see them play a lot of zone here today.
02:10That foul was on Buehner, who is Germany's leading scorer at the qualifiers.
02:15Fan banks it in.
02:18Spain is on the board first.
02:22She's scored all three levels.
02:24What an impressive individual.
02:26Alexis Peterson, originally from Columbus, Ohio, joined the German squad in 2023.
02:32And knocks down the elbow, Jay.
02:38And over, winning ACC player of the year at Syracuse.
02:44Drafted by the Seattle Storm in 2017.
02:48We talked about how a fan now being a member of the Storm.
02:53Peterson navigated the WNBA for six years in training camps.
02:57Fam is fed.
02:59Flips it.
03:00No good.
03:00Offensive rebound.
03:02Carrera.
03:03Kick out.
03:04Open look at a triple.
03:06And Spain is two for two early.
03:09There's a defensive mindedness to the Spain team.
03:12But where they are such a threat is from the three-point line.
03:15They have got multiple players that are excellent from deep.
03:19You've got to be very mindful of those second chance opportunities.
03:22Maria Conde, a plus 82 in the qualifiers in San Juan.
03:27Brack attack, Phoebus.
03:29Man, she's been so fun to watch.
03:31And she has a good feel for the game.
03:35Her ability to be able to get it on the inside, get it on the outside is something that German's
03:40going to need.
03:43Nate Cazorla fires and connects from deep.
03:48Well, Spain has responded to Germany's punches on this end.
03:53Cazorla had eight assists in the qualifiers against Senegal.
03:58Former Atlanta Dream player in 2019 as Peterson sets up shop.
04:03A horn's action up top.
04:05Conde defends Feebush.
04:07Peterson gets free.
04:09Floater.
04:10Offensive rebound.
04:12Buhner.
04:13But it's mustered away by Spain.
04:16There's a scrappiness early on to this game.
04:19Feisty in physicality.
04:21Iana Martin banks it in.
04:23Absorbed the contact.
04:25Seventh overall pick of the Portland Fire.
04:27Has yet to compete in the WNBA.
04:30You can see why they're excited about her.
04:33It's not only an ability to attack, but she's been picking up full court.
04:37Really tenacious with her on-ball defense.
04:42Great shot making early, Sarah.
04:45It's a part of the comfort level of these teams.
04:48And especially to be able to have a good fluidity in how they pass, how they move to clear up
04:55some of those looks.
04:56Spain is 4-5 from the field.
04:59Germany 2-3.
05:01The Germans with the ball right now.
05:03Eichmeier.
05:05It's wrapped up by Martin.
05:09FAM comes up with the ball.
05:17Cazorla the kick.
05:18Kondé sends it back to the perimeter on the wing.
05:23Martin slashes off the knee.
05:25Germany ball.
05:26She loses it there, but you can understand why there's a lot of excitement about Iana Martin
05:31and the impact she can make.
05:34To think about her as a 20-year-old.
05:37Our FAM is a 20-year-old.
05:39The youth of this Spanish team.
05:43And especially both players that complement one another so well.
05:47And Martin is the future of the point guard position for Spain.
05:50Physical.
05:52As she attacks the paint as a ball handler.
05:55FAM with the save.
05:57Martin pushes tempo.
05:59Spin in the paint.
06:01Carrera is fouled on the fadeaway jumper.
06:06And this is going to be fun to watch an individual like Raquel Carrera plays for the New York Liberty.
06:12And this is a very different role for her.
06:14How much she's going to be relied upon in terms of responsibility, a scoring punch.
06:18Not quite that same type of playing time and role in her WNBA games.
06:26But for this Spain, Spain will need her to continue to be that force on the inside.
06:32And not only on the inside, but she can knock it down from the outside at her 6-2 frame.
06:38Niara Saboli checks in for Germany.
06:41Another member of the Toronto Tempo.
06:44Featured in our game.
06:45Goes up against her teammate, Maria Conde of Spain.
06:51It's 12-4.
06:53Spanish national team.
06:56In front.
07:007-0 run for Spain.
07:03Jab step.
07:04Peterson.
07:06Geisel Suda was looking for it.
07:07Nothing there.
07:08Feebish catching shoot.
07:09It's true!
07:10Feebish from deep.
07:11You said it.
07:1243% her career from downtown.
07:15You can't give her a bit of air space.
07:17She's got such a high release point as well.
07:20It's a fluid motion.
07:21And she's going to put those shots up in volume because of her efficiency.
07:26Conde an answer in the pocket.
07:29And Brennan, I feel we're going to see a lot of three-point shooting here today.
07:33One based on some of the defensive coverages, but both of these teams have got those shooters.
07:38Both teams hot from deep early in the ball game.
07:43Especially Spain, three of three.
07:47Conde curls in the paint.
07:50Martins separates and connects!
07:53Another one for Spain.
07:55They are 4-4 from deep.
07:57That's tough.
07:59And off of a disjointed possession and pass.
08:03Peterson from the outside.
08:06Rating threes at Berlin Arena.
08:08My goodness.
08:12We know Japan already set the record with 23 threes made just a little bit earlier.
08:19I don't know.
08:20Maybe we get some competition.
08:21Both countries are a combined 6 of 6 from behind the arc.
08:27Martine with the handles.
08:29Contested three.
08:30It goes!
08:31Wow!
08:32What a start from behind the arc.
08:39The Portland Fire have to be elated.
08:42The quickness of the release, too.
08:45And how she creates space.
08:48Pham with the strip.
08:51Chance to take a breath for Spain.
08:53Up by 11.
08:54Four and a half to go in the first.
08:56Conde draws the defense in.
08:58Martine has the hot hand.
09:01Feed it.
09:02Carrera.
09:04Staying here.
09:04It's 7 on the shot clock for Spain.
09:07You can tell they were hungry to get back on the World Cup stage.
09:11Oh, you see it right here.
09:13And there is a balance in how they're playing.
09:14That's a tough look for Martine.
09:17Peterson doing everything she can to stay cloaked on her.
09:22And you mentioned the enthusiasm with Martine.
09:25And even right out of the start, it's also what she can do defensively in terms of her ball pressure.
09:31She navigates screens really well.
09:35She's still just 20 years old, but she's got a good level of composure to her game.
09:39She's the former EuroLeague Young Player of the Year.
09:42Outstanding at the qualifiers.
09:44Conde knew it was off on the release.
09:46Saboli clears.
09:48We wish her sister Satu well, who was out for Germany.
09:53Officially ruled out for the rest of the WNBA season as well.
09:56With concussion and head injuries.
09:59Niara pulls it and left it short.
10:02Cleared by Megan DeLeo, who was the leading scorer for Spain at the qualifiers.
10:06Just over 14 and a half per game.
10:09Quick trigger.
10:10Conde, a three.
10:14Spain is just pouring it in.
10:18And great ball movement to create these open looks.
10:21Working the inside out.
10:24Making an extra pass is the beauty of a look.
10:28We'll be right back to Berlin.
10:34At 18, they won bronze.
10:3617, silver.
10:37Bronze in 2010 as well.
10:40They're ranked sixth in the FIBA rankings entering this international tournament.
10:44Germany 11th.
10:45Yeah, and for the Spain team, they gave USA its closest game in March qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.
10:52They come in with a lot of confidence.
10:54You talk about their level of continuity with one another.
10:58And overall, you can see how comfortable they look in knowing exactly where and how they want to get their
11:04shots.
11:06Their DNA is to score on the perimeter and defend at the perimeter.
11:12They've hit six three-pointers.
11:13They've got two steals in the opening quarter.
11:16So, already from the start, you see this full-court pressure.
11:19That's a big part of what they do.
11:23Britta Daub at the point.
11:2519 in the black jersey.
11:26Sablely sets a hard screen.
11:29Vilka opened up.
11:31Leamed into that triple, but missed it.
11:33DeLeo clears.
11:35Here comes Spain, up by 14.
11:39Leos had a good year with the Portland Fire.
11:41Shooting it from deep.
11:44Helena Pueyo, nine in the white jersey at the point.
11:48Crisscross Ortiz.
11:50Missed it.
11:52Buena Vida with a second chance opportunity.
11:55Pham on the skip.
11:58Nearly another offensive rebound.
12:00Vilka.
12:03Attempting to box out.
12:05She did so and drew the foul.
12:06Germany, that is going to be huge.
12:08For the amount of three-point shots that Spain wants to take,
12:11so often those long offensive rebounds are ones that are a little bit easier to clean up.
12:17Spain is very intentional on crashing the offensive glass because of it.
12:22So for Germany, finding bodies, identifying, making sure it's a one-and-out possession
12:27would be really important.
12:33Three minutes to go in the first.
12:36Both countries a part of Group A.
12:38Japan at 1-0.
12:40Played earlier this morning.
12:41Hit 23-pointers to set a new FIBA World Cup record.
12:47FIBA uses the ball screen.
12:49Maintains the dribble.
12:50Deep into the paint.
12:52And rebounded by Goulish.
12:56Creates another recycle here.
13:00Goulish.
13:01The bounce.
13:02FIBA couldn't finish DeLeo with the defense.
13:05Big rebound for Megan DeLeo, as you mentioned, an important part of this team,
13:09especially with how she can score.
13:12Averaged about 15 a game in the qualifiers to lead the country.
13:17Milka collects the basketball for Germany.
13:20The host country playing in just their second FIBA World Cup.
13:24Their last in 1998 when they hosted.
13:28That's when the event was played in seven German cities.
13:32Now are two arenas in Berlin.
13:35First coastline is his foul.
13:37Second team foul.
13:39It's the second team foul in Spain.
13:43Red hot early.
13:44Eight of 13 from the floor.
13:46Olaf Lang in his first year.
13:49First go around as Germany's head coach.
13:52Goulish trying to get his squad on track.
13:55Good look at a three.
13:57Daub misfires.
13:59It's a hard screen, a hard seal to open up the shot.
14:10D'Leo is coming for the ball off her fingertips, turned over.
14:14However, a really well-run play by Spain,
14:17but even better defense by this German national team
14:22who you had pointed to Olaf Lang,
14:24and he's got a lot of different stops,
14:25a wealth of coaching experience,
14:27both as a head coach, assistant coach,
14:29international level WNBA.
14:33And if there's one thing he cares about,
14:36it's defense, it's attention to detail,
14:38knowing your personnel, and also the execution
14:41and how you're running things on the offensive end.
14:43His attention to detail filters into his teams,
14:47and you can hear it when you speak to him
14:49and how he talks about his work.
14:51Olaf Lang, born in Berlin, 1972.
14:55His mid-50s.
14:59Again, he is the husband of Australian national coach Sandy Brondello.
15:05He started his coaching career back in 1995
15:09when he had guided the U-20 men's team in Germany.
15:13Buena Vida finds Ortiz.
15:16Shot clock down to four.
15:18Ginzo with nowhere to go.
15:20The contest by Geisel Suda and the Germans.
15:27Germany started four of six.
15:29They missed their last seven.
15:30Turnaround jumper.
15:32Missed by Goulish.
15:37Final minute first quarter.
15:38It's been all Spain.
15:40Both countries.
15:42Bit of a dry spell now on offense.
15:44The defense has started to click.
15:48Ortiz could not hit the roller.
15:51DeLeo.
15:52Defense draped.
15:53Free for three.
15:54Off the heel.
15:55Cleared by Feebush.
15:58Wants to push.
16:04Slows it down.
16:05Feebush with five first quarter points.
16:06Feebush with the left hand!
16:09Let's out a roar.
16:10She gets it to go.
16:11A bucket and a bruise.
16:12Tough take.
16:14Cutting right across the lane.
16:17She's got a little hook there underneath,
16:19but understands how to get off that shot,
16:21work angles, embrace that contact.
16:24And that was a great job with staying with the play
16:28to be able to finish.
16:30And mentioned this from the open and throughout.
16:33Leone Feebush is a difference maker.
16:36A difference maker for what this group does,
16:38both defensively and offensively.
16:41And she reads her defender really well
16:43in understanding how to get right to the cup.
16:46Just one of two players for Germany to score
16:49in this first quarter.
16:50Feebush pours in the free throw up to eight points.
16:54Alexis Peterson has the other five.
16:58Germany has chipped away to cut this to 11.
17:01Shot and game clock about even.
17:02And they wreak havoc on defense.
17:04Peterson at the controls.
17:06Sends it up the floor to Bielefeld.
17:11Germany can hold for the final shot.
17:13Here's Peterson.
17:15European experience.
17:17Vital.
17:18At the point guard spot especially.
17:20Shake and bake.
17:21Hits the jumper.
17:22The officials rule no good.
17:25The shot was not fired in time.
17:28And Spain carries an 11-point lead to the second quarter.
17:33Germany hosting this FIBA World Cup for just the second time.
17:38While Spain is on a redemption tour in Group A.
17:42Come back with us for the 20-20.
17:45Spain red hot from behind the arc.
17:48Six of ten in the opening quarter.
17:49Oh, they have been lights out and doing so in a variety of different ways.
17:54Continue to look at the movement off the basketball and actions that open up these clean looks.
17:58They do a great job with their spacing on the floor and have been just smooth in their motions.
18:05Making extra passes.
18:07This is a huge component of how they play.
18:09And their ability to open things up from the outside by then creates these driving lanes and allows them to
18:16rely more on their defense.
18:17At the qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico, Spain hit about nine threes a game.
18:21They made their first five.
18:23Saboli with the spin and the contest by DeLeo and company.
18:31Martine finds Ginzo, drops the jumper.
18:35There's a good cadence to how they're playing.
18:37And they want to push.
18:39They want to find early offense.
18:41But they're also not rushing to necessarily just take their first open look.
18:49While Spain looked to hedge the screen, a foul committed.
18:56No one has more than two personals on each side.
19:00Again, I beg your pardon, Buter picked up too early for Germany, so that's why we saw her for just
19:05three minutes.
19:06You get five personals in FIBA as opposed to six in the WNBA.
19:12They do let a lot more go.
19:15So we've been told and witnessed.
19:17Exactly.
19:18And I think there's a feel-out process early on of exactly where and how some of those fouls are
19:24going to be called,
19:25how it's going to be appreciated, how much force you can get away with, especially out in the basketball.
19:30Here's the ball.
19:31Geisel Suda, off on the three.
19:35Good look and release by another Portland fire featured in this game.
19:40Shares the floor with Buhner.
19:41On the other side, it's DeLeo and the future fire.
19:44Keanu Martin.
19:46Chance of defense from the Berlin crowd.
19:51Inside, nice spin, and flick of the wrist by Kinzo.
19:56His size off of that mismatch in scoring over Peterson.
19:59A little bit of a miscommunication defensively.
20:03A foul on the other end.
20:08Saboli has a discussion of what she's seeing out there.
20:13See right here, good take.
20:17See Abelie's on the attack.
20:18Saboli's on the attack.
20:19And right here, there's not a whole lot Peterson could do off of that defensive coverage.
20:25And in the zone, just get stuck right in the middle.
20:37Free throws for Niara Saboli.
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21:00See you there?
21:01Let's go.
21:02Let's go, baby.
21:04We are back.
21:05We are back.
21:07You were tour stops out of the season.
21:10There's more to come there.
21:12Raquel Carrera, the New York Liberty big, who did not play at the Paris Olympics in 24, had a heartbreaking
21:19injury.
21:20You're reminded of her greatness.
21:21This was an all-star five at Eurobasket.
21:23A silver medal.
21:25Saboli answers with two on the block.
21:31Amethia Floreth of the Washington Mystics is fresh into the game.
21:35And Spain gets two more to double up the lead again by 16.
21:38It makes an instant impact.
21:40She's done that with the Mystics.
21:41And already off of that possession, you see, she's got some wiggle to her game.
21:46Stop and go.
21:47Good change of pace.
21:49Recognition that allows her to get spaces on the floor that she can create.
21:53Meanwhile, Buter missed the three.
21:55Spin move by Martine.
21:57Shovels it.
21:58Carrera open.
21:59Friendly front rim bounce.
22:01Once again, the spacing, the balance, the passing.
22:03Spain hitting on all cylinders and how they're continuing to shift this defense.
22:09What a pass by Martine.
22:12The creativity.
22:14Carrera in sync early in Berlin.
22:20You're watching the 20-26 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup on TNT.
22:31Olaf Lang is the head coach of Germany.
22:34Trying to get his defense in sync.
22:38Spain is shooting 62% from the floor.
22:4113 of 21 overall.
22:42Now, they haven't hit a three yet in the second quarter, so they're perimeter defense.
22:46I know that three-point percentage has dropped a ton.
22:49Now they're down to 60% from three.
22:52They've been excellent.
22:54And that's a big part of it with how they've moved the basketball.
22:58Nine assists on those 13-mate shots.
23:03And they also play with a good cadence, not only in how they push in the full court,
23:07but in the half court.
23:09They've moved so much off to basketball.
23:11They're running a lot of actions, even on the weak side, setting screens.
23:15It's really tough to continue to match up with them on top of the fact that we've mentioned this over
23:20and over again.
23:21What they do and the pride they take on this defensive side with their pressure.
23:25On the drive, Ghoulish draws the foul.
23:36Martin is charged with the foul.
23:39It's her first.
23:41She's got eight first-half points for Spain.
23:44Conde with nine.
23:46And for Germany, Feebisch with eight.
23:50And I think that's going to continue to be the questions for Germany.
23:53Who else can help contribute?
23:56Yes.
23:56With Feebisch, obviously, she is the key.
24:00She's the one that's going to be the go-to player in so many different levels.
24:03Alexis Peterson, you've already mentioned, that's a wealth of international experience.
24:07Her ability to create, penetrate, get in the lane, more of a facilitator.
24:11Saboli is going to be counted on.
24:12Niara, that is.
24:14But without an individual like Satu Saboli, there's got to be a level of depth and production outside of those
24:20three players.
24:23Substitution timeout.
24:28Lena Zontag is into the ballgame.
24:31The second senior event for Germany.
24:35It's played at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
24:39It's the first ever Olympic Games for Germany.
24:42Meanwhile, Spain finished fifth in Paris.
24:45One of six total appearances.
24:47Turn of the corner by Floret.
24:49Drops it off.
24:50Ginzo does the rest.
24:52She's got six.
24:54Paola Ginzo.
24:56Once again, Spain is doubling Germany.
24:59Yeah, Flora, so slippery.
25:01Like, there's just ways in which Spain understand how to be available for one another.
25:07The Phoebus triple was halfway down and out.
25:14As Orla slows it down.
25:17Pull up.
25:18Torrens, the veteran who just turned 37 years old.
25:22A legend of the program.
25:28Peterson thought about the three.
25:30Penetrates.
25:30Flips it up.
25:31No.
25:33Rebound corraled by Carrera.
25:35What a rip by Carrera, too.
25:40It's nicely going after the glass.
25:43There's a lot of focus here for Spain and how they've come out.
25:48And you can see it with the one-and-out looks on the defensive side.
25:52The pressure they're putting on the basketball, picking up full court, and then how in sync they are on the
25:58offensive side.
25:59And you mentioned Albert Torres.
26:01Torren's a huge part of that.
26:03She's the only player with World Cup experience.
26:06She has been a part of the senior team since 2008, so she is a steady force for this group.
26:18Offensive rebound, Carrera, has been everywhere on the glass.
26:23Floreth with 10 to shoot.
26:25Five-and-a-half to play in the first half.
26:26Floreth, the outlet.
26:28Cazerola, the extra.
26:29Torrens.
26:33Recycled trip once again for Spain.
26:36Now five offensive rebounds.
26:39Offensive rebounds.
26:42Torrens, once again with the shot clock drifting, heaves it.
26:47Loose ball, and it's scooped up by Germany.
26:49Excellent defense by Fiebich.
26:51That's an example of her length, size, at the wing and perimeter defense that she can be such a menace
26:59with.
27:01Fiebich in the post this time.
27:03And it's fouled by Caz Orland.
27:07Five minutes to play in the second.
27:11Spain and Germany of Group A.
27:14Japan got the morning started with a convincing win over Mali.
27:21They hit 23 pointers.
27:22We've helped for a while.
27:23I guess it still could happen.
27:25Spain was five or five from three in six of their first seven.
27:29They haven't hit a three in quarter number two.
27:36Buehner wanted the back door.
27:38Nothing there.
27:41Ghoulish back for Dobb.
27:43Fiebich fires.
27:48Germany basketball.
27:50They're going to reset to 14 on the shot clock.
27:53And for Germany, for as much as we've talked about Spain and how they've hit the offensive glass,
27:57it's going to be a key component for Germany.
28:00If upon some of these new shots, they can continue to crash.
28:04The tough part sometimes about all of that is the awareness of getting back in your transition defense with how
28:11Spain wants to run.
28:15Buehner tried to curl around the screen.
28:17Conde pleads her taste to the official.
28:19And the foul occurred inside.
28:24Maybe it is on Conde.
28:37Indeed.
28:40Conde's first personal.
28:51Germany makes a handful of substitutions looking to find a formula to get back in this game.
28:58Spain, an outstanding shooting performance still at 54%.
29:06And Luisa Geisel-Suda is at the strike for Germany.
29:10Well, and as you mentioned, they've done a better job defending the three-point line against Spain here in the
29:16second quarter.
29:17But there's got to be a concerted effort to make sure that when you force a miss,
29:22that you're finishing things off with that defensive rebound.
29:25A lot of those areas, whether it's taking care of the basketball, taking care of your defensive glass,
29:31the last thing you need to do is give Spain extra looks and extra opportunities on this end of the
29:36floor.
29:38First points for Geisel-Suda.
29:41Geisel-Suda in this opening game in Group A for Germany.
29:48It's interesting, though, in some ways similar to the way USA started their game against China,
29:53when you open things up from the three-point line, it opens up the floor.
29:57It allows you a lot more looks here on the inside because of it.
30:02Bam is fed.
30:03Draws to Carrera.
30:04A three!
30:08How about the young stars of Spain?
30:12Bam, just 20 years old.
30:14Carrera, 24 years old.
30:16Beavish, the offensive board.
30:18That's a kickball on the other end.
30:19I think Bam, too, just her comfort passing out of the double teams.
30:22Those are all the different aspects of her game.
30:25You continue to see evolve.
30:26You've got two going at her.
30:28Sabley digging down deep.
30:30Force a rotation.
30:32Clears up a clean look from the top of the key.
30:35Raquel Carrera, nine first-half points.
30:38She's two of two from three.
30:42New York Liberty.
30:43Sabley with the nifty spin.
30:45She has teammates in that 24 championship team.
30:53Germany, one of its last nine have gone in.
30:55And Bam pours in the hook.
30:58Bam's got four.
30:59The long reach.
31:01The long stride.
31:03She covers so much ground.
31:06Jump pass out of reach for Febisch.
31:08Turn over Germany.
31:11For Germany, they've got to do anything they can to try and bump Bam a little bit early.
31:17Every time Bam has caught it on the inside, she's got such a deep position.
31:22And she's got a lot of room to make decisions with it, whether she looks for her own or looks
31:27for that kickout.
31:32Bam on the perimeter this time.
31:34Carrera wants a paint touch.
31:36Bullied a bit on the baseline.
31:39Bam for three.
31:40Drills it.
31:42Our Bam doing it all.
31:4520 years old, inside, outside, facilitating.
31:51Every time you watch her, it feels like she just continues to get more evolved and just more poised in
31:58her possessions.
32:00Fam, as a rookie with the Seattle Storm, 36% three-point shooter, the number three overall pitch.
32:07Easy Fudd went one.
32:09Olivia Miles two.
32:11Saboli is fouled in the act of shooting.
32:13Off one foot.
32:14Niara Saboli to end an 8-0 run for Spain.
32:18Much needed for this German team.
32:20And Niara Saboli has been aggressive here in this game, getting to the basket.
32:24At that time, that's a tough one.
32:26Draws some contact, feels the body.
32:29Cazorla doing everything she can to not allow the straight-line drive to the cup.
32:34And Saboli still very creative in squaring up her shoulders to finish.
32:42Five first-half points for Niara Saboli.
32:45Having a career season in Toronto with the tempo.
32:51We'll be back to Berlin in 30 seconds.
33:08Spain is 9-14 from the field in the second quarter.
33:13And their young frontcourt stars, and Fam and Carrera, pictured now, have come to play in Berlin.
33:20It looks so, just the synchronicity in how they're moving and moving off of one another.
33:25The awareness of where each other is at on the floor to create quality looks.
33:29And they draw so much attention.
33:31They've got a ton of gravity on the floor, in particular our fans.
33:35And she's got a great recognition of that.
33:38Strong with the basketball.
33:40We keep talking about how she's just 20 years old and was the youngest player in the WNBA this year,
33:44having turned 20 in June.
33:47But she's got a lot of pro experience and playing professionally since she was 15.
33:54So there's a different level of maturity that you see from her on the floor in this setting.
33:58And meanwhile, Carrera earned Eurobasket All-Star 5 honors when Spain captured silver at FIBA Eurobasket in 2025.
34:12They fell to Belgium in the gold medal game.
34:15But really, it was an appetizer to fuel them in their first World Cup appearance since 2018.
34:21They didn't qualify in 2022, which was a surprise to many.
34:27Fam has proven her versatility on this end of the floor.
34:31Carrera bodying inside.
34:33No look for a pass.
34:34In there instead.
34:35They'll go to the three-point arc again.
34:39Tonde with another one.
34:40She's got 12, four three-pointers.
34:43Everyone's getting in on the action.
34:45And the ball has not stuck at all.
34:47The quickness and the decision-making to keep it moving.
34:51A 24-point lead for Spain as we approach two minutes to go in the half.
34:57Alexis Peterson at the controls.
35:00Picks up the dribble.
35:01Shot clock to three.
35:04Carrera the rebound.
35:08They split the timeline.
35:09They do.
35:10Ortiz to a streaking.
35:12Carrera.
35:12Rim running rewarded.
35:14And she's fouled.
35:15Will shoot two.
35:16And Germany has got to be better with their pickup points.
35:19Off of that possession, you've got Carrera bringing the basketball up.
35:23And once she makes the pass, she just keeps on going.
35:27It's a good give-and-go play by Spain.
35:30There's got to be some more resistance.
35:32But I think, you know, a player like Raquel Carrera, as you have mentioned, she's just
35:3624 years old, 6'2", in a rookie year with the New York Liberty.
35:41Opportunities like this, and it's a part of the game as she's in just her first year in
35:47the WNBA, has played in 22 games.
35:49Not the same role that she's going to have in this scenario.
35:52So I do think there's a bit of refreshing nature to be able to expand your game some and play
35:59at this international level and continue to use for both sides a level of building your
36:04confidence.
36:05We're reminded, based on her first half of play today, that Carrera, who was a representative
36:11for Spain in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, had to miss the Paris Olympics with an injury.
36:18I'm sure she was looking forward to being back on this stage again.
36:22All of that adds up.
36:23In everyone's path, the journey is different, the opportunities you get, but you can't say
36:27it enough to be on this stage, in these moments, representing your country.
36:32It's incomparable to so many other opportunities that you may have, and you never take that for
36:39granted.
36:41Leonie Feebisch, another New York Liberty standout at the line.
36:48A lot of Liberty represented in this game, some former Liberty.
36:52Ghoulish checks in for Germans.
36:55Six New York Liberty players on World Cup rosters.
37:00It's impressive.
37:01Carrera in this game.
37:04Of course, Feebisch on the other side.
37:06Nyara Saboli, a hero in those 2020 for WNBA Finals for New York.
37:16Elena Buena Vida keeps her toe on the pivot foot and knocks down the mid-range jumper.
37:27Good job keeping it nailed down.
37:29You get freed up.
37:30Everyone's worried about where she's going to pass it to.
37:32Realizes she's got a lot of space.
37:35A 50 spot by Spain with still a minute and change to go in the half.
37:39Geisel Suda off from deep.
37:42Now 0 of 3 from behind the arc.
37:48Elena Vida hits Carrera.
37:53Tapped out by Ortiz of Spain.
37:56Germany ball.
38:00Spain has made, rather, Germany has made just seven field goals in this half.
38:07On 29 tries, 24%.
38:09While Spain is still at 59% shooting.
38:13A big part of it, too, is that they can't get stops or get stops consistently.
38:16So they're continuing to be forced to play against this Spain's half-court defense,
38:21which is really staunch.
38:22Peterson's played a bulk of the minutes in the first half, 14 of them.
38:27Germany now 2 for its last 15 from the floor.
38:32Conde's hit 4 threes, 10 in the white.
38:35Carrera goes back to work.
38:38Maria Conde into the paint.
38:42Finds Pham with 5 to shoot.
38:44Conde, sidestep 3.
38:50Pham offensive rebound, new 14.
38:53Shot in game, identical.
38:56Elena Vida, bounce pass is kicked.
39:00It was kicked by Germany, so it's Spain ball.
39:06However, it's that offensive rebound.
39:08Pham flying in, no one puts a body on her.
39:11That gives Spain once again an opportunity here as they close out the half.
39:28Timeout was taken.
39:316.3 to go.
39:35Here's Spain, you're looking for more.
39:36Let's listen in.
39:38Let's make a little post.
39:40If that's true, let's make a little post.
39:44Let's make it.
39:46Let's go.
39:59Let's look for Indiana.
40:07I hope you can't go up it.
40:08Don't miss it.
40:10Don't miss it if we lose the ball.
40:18Well, take your pick if you're Germany,
40:21in terms of wondering, guessing,
40:25who's going to take this last shot.
40:27Spain has made nine threes.
40:30Conde has four of them.
40:32Martín with two.
40:35And even Carrera, who's been hot.
40:38Pham and Carrera, both post players,
40:40a three-pointer apiece.
40:42Of course, they don't need three,
40:43but they've turned that shot off to be put in six in the first quarter.
40:46A big part of it is that Germany has collapsed on the inside
40:49and forced the kickouts, the extra passes,
40:51that have led to those open three-point looks.
40:54Fifteen assists in the half already.
40:56Ortiz to trigger it in.
40:58Martín's caught it with five.
41:00Martín, the lefty sniper, no good.
41:04And Germany comes up with the rock.
41:06First half concludes.
41:08It is a 26-point lead for Spain.
41:11They close the first half in a 14-4 run.
41:14It's been a balance of everything.
41:16Three-point shooting, tough defense, shared basketball,
41:20doing a lot of the little things to create this lead.
41:22It's great to have you with us here on TNT Sports for the 2026.