For the fourth consecutive year, Spain’s youth women’s basketball teams will sweep the podium. The cadet squad (U16) secured a dominant victory over Latvia (81-24) in the semifinals, earning a spot in the final against Slovenia (Saturday 23, 19:30). Spain had already beaten Slovenia by 31 points in the group stage (61-30). While the final will determine gold or silver, it is already certain that every Spanish national team from youth categories will have climbed the podium in 2025—a feat repeated every summer since 2022.
After the pandemic hiatus, Spain has been unstoppable in youth championships. This Saturday, the country will add its 60th medal in youth categories (currently 26 gold, 23 silver, and 10 bronze), and could match the golden sweep of 2013, though that year the U19 team finished fourth at the World Cup. This time, the U19s took bronze.
The U16 team had been conceding an average of 39.7 points in the European Championship in Pitesti, Romania. In the semifinal, they aimed to improve that mark. At halftime, Spain led 44-13, having allowed only two field goals from Latvia—the rest of Latvia’s points came from free throws.
Spain built their lead through defense and second-chance opportunities. In the first quarter (22-9), they had already recorded 9 steals (Latvia had 13 turnovers) and 9 of their 13 rebounds were offensive.
Isabel Hernández, a strong MVP candidate, hit her second three-pointer to make it 44-13 at halftime.
The U16 team slowed down in the third quarter. More than five minutes passed without scoring between Ona Ballesté’s basket (48-13) and one from Anastasia Lishchuk—daughter of former Valencia and Murcia player and already 2.03m tall at 14 years old—making it 50-15 (min. 27). But Latvia still couldn’t find the basket because, although Spain’s attack had stalled, their defense remained relentless. Isabel Hernández extended the lead to 40 points (57-17) by the end of the third quarter. Latvia scored only four points in that period and had made just three field goals at that stage: 3/43 shooting.
Carla Cherry, daughter of another Spanish basketball legend (Carlos Cherry), sealed the game from the free-throw line, setting the final margin at +57 (81-24). Every Spanish player scored.
Amelia Alonso, a power forward from Valencia Basket’s youth academy, was the top scorer with 15 points. Isabel Hernández finished with 13 points and 5 assists.
This victory marks another step toward maintaining Spain’s perfect youth basketball record.