Iyana Martin helped Spain return to the World Cup podium with an 81-58 victory in the bronze-medal game in Berlin, finishing with 22 points and nine assists. The recent first-round draft pick played a central role as a second-half surge settled the contest and secured Spain’s medal.

What happened

Spain established the decisive separation after halftime, turning the medal game into a 23-point victory. Martin contributed through both scoring and distribution, giving the bronze-winning performance a clear individual focal point.

The result completed Spain’s return to the podium after the team missed qualification for the 2022 tournament. In Berlin, that absence gave way to another medal finish, with Martin helping deliver the victory that decided third place.

Why it matters

The bronze extends Spain’s medal streak to four consecutive World Cup appearances. That distinction matters: the sequence covers the tournaments Spain has played in, with the failure to qualify in 2022 creating a gap between appearances.

Spain therefore returned to a familiar finishing position among the medal winners, even after missing an edition of the competition. The result connects this team’s achievement with its previous podium finishes while making the qualification gap part of the story.

For Martin, the performance also places a World Cup medal alongside her recent selection in the first round of the draft. Her contribution was substantial in both scoring and playmaking, rather than being limited to one part of Spain’s attack.

By the numbers

Martin finished with 22 points and nine assists in the bronze-medal victory. Her scoring accounted for more than a quarter of Spain’s 81 points, while the assist total underscored her contribution to creating baskets for teammates.

The final margin was 23 points, with Spain holding its opponent to 58. The second-half surge was the defining stretch behind that separation and the eventual medal-clinching result.

What to watch next

How Spain builds on its return to the podium is the next storyline to follow. The benchmark is now four straight medal-winning appearances, alongside the reminder that qualification itself interrupted that run.

Martin’s development will also draw attention following her first-round selection and this World Cup performance. Her Berlin contribution provides a concrete reference point: 22 points, nine assists and a bronze medal.