Sika Koné makes Women’s World Cup history as Mali pulls off stunning Spain upset

On Sep 6, 2026

Sika Koné made history on Saturday as Mali pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the opening days of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

Koné recorded 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead Mali to an 82-73 victory over Spain, handing the sixth-ranked Spanish team a stunning defeat in Berlin.

The win was Mali’s first of the tournament after opening their World Cup campaign with a narrow loss to Japan, but Koné’s performance ensured that Saturday’s result was about more than just an upset.

Seleção feminina de basquetebol do Mali venceu a Espanha (82-73) no Mundial FIBA.

É a primeira vitória do Mali contra uma equipe europeia na competição.

Sika Koné ala da Atlanta Dream, WNBA anotou 19 pontos + 10 rebotes. Foi eleita a Jogadora do Jogo. pic.twitter.com/F3HKZaY99L

— ÁFRICA DO JEITO QUE NUNCA VIU (@AfricajnViu) September 6, 2026

Sika Koné makes Women’s World Cup history

With her 19-point, 10-rebound performance against Spain, Koné recorded a double-double for the fifth consecutive game she has played at the Women’s Basketball World Cup. According to Opta, she is the first player to achieve that feat since at least 1994.

Koné was joined atop Mali’s scoring chart by Djeneba N’Diaye, who also finished with 19 points. Together, they helped Mali overcome a difficult first half and turn the game around after the break.

Spain held a narrow two-point advantage at halftime, but Mali took control in the third quarter. A 12-2 run helped swing the momentum decisively, with Mali outscoring Spain 31-19 during the period. Spain was unable to recover in the fourth quarter as Mali protected their lead and closed out an 82-73 victory.

A huge upset for Mali

The win represents a significant early statement from Mali, particularly against a Spanish team that came into the tournament as one of the highest-ranked sides in the competition. Spain had opened their campaign with a dominant win over host nation Germany, while Mali had fallen 102-97 to Japan in their first game. That made Saturday’s result even more surprising.

Koné, however, once again delivered on the World Cup stage. The 23-year-old has already established herself as one of the most important players in Mali’s program, and her latest double-double was just another addition to her increasingly impressive international career.

Her five-game streak is especially notable given how difficult it is to consistently produce double-digit totals in two statistical categories at the highest level of international competition.

Sika Kone has etched her name into the record books, becoming the first player since 1994 to record five consecutive double-doubles at the World Cup. 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/qQ0tb068HO

— Grow’n the Game (@growing_thegame) September 5, 2026

What’s next for Mali and Spain?

The victory puts Mali back on track heading into the final game of the group stage. Mali will face Germany on Monday, while Spain will attempt to bounce back against Japan.

Both games could have significant implications for the next stage of the competition, but after Saturday’s result, Mali has already shown that they are capable of challenging one of the tournament’s established powers. And at the center of it all was Koné, who left the court with another double-double and a piece of Women’s World Cup history.