Mali pulled off the first major shock of the Women's Basketball World Cup, stunning European powerhouse Spain 82-73 in Berlin on Saturday to secure only their second victory in the tournament's history.
The 18th-ranked Malian side produced a sensational second-half performance against the world's sixth-ranked team and runners-up at last year's EuroBasket, turning a two-point halftime deficit into a famous triumph. The result marked Mali's first-ever win against European opposition and avenged a heavy defeat to Spain in the 2010 edition.
A Dominant Third Quarter
Mali trailed 40-38 at the break, but transformed the contest with a devastating third-quarter display. The African side outscored Spain 31-19 in the period, including a decisive 16-4 run that swung the game decisively in their favour.
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Sika Kone, the star forward who plays for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, was instrumental in the comeback. She drained two three-pointers during the game-changing burst and finished with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. In doing so, Kone became the first player in Women's World Cup history to record five consecutive double-doubles.
Mali carried their momentum into the final quarter, scoring the first five points to extend their lead. Spain could get no closer than nine points the rest of the way, as Mali secured a famous victory.
Mali’s Sika Kone vies for the ball with Spain’s Maite Cazorla, left, during the women’s World Cup basketball match between Mali and Spain, in Berlin, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (Andreas Gora/dpa via AP)
A Landmark Victory
Djeneba N'Diaye also contributed 19 points for Mali, which improved its overall World Cup record to two wins in 12 matches. Rokia Doumbia orchestrated the offense with nine assists.
"I mean, it's everything to us. To be able to win against Spain is everything. We are not surprised because we all are professional players." — Sika Kone, Mali forward
Kone, who has spent much of her professional career playing in Spain's top league, admitted the victory held special significance . "Spain is one of the best teams, so to be able to beat them is amazing. We have good players too, but we just have to believe in it," she said.
Mali carried their momentum into the final quarter, scoring the first five points to extend their lead. Spain could get no closer than nine points the rest of the way, as Mali secured a famous victory.
Head coach Oumarou Sidiya attributed the success to years of development through Mali's youth programmes. "It starts with the youth teams. These are the same girls who went through this training, who are now able to play at a high level," he said.
Spain, which had demolished hosts Germany in their opening game, were led by Iyana Martin's 20 points but could not recover from Mali's third-quarter onslaught . Mali will face Germany on Monday, looking to build on their historic victory.
With reporting from AP News, FIBA, Sportstar, and Yahoo Sports.
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