Mexico Rallies in Ponce to Dethrone Puerto Rico

and Capture the 2026 Final Four Gold

PONCE, Puerto Rico, June 7, 2026. – Mexico delivered a stunning comeback to claim the gold medal at the 2026 NORCECA Women’s Final Four 2, held June 5–7 at the Salvador Dijols Coliseum.

In a dramatic fifth set, Mexico surged from behind to defeat host nation Puerto Rico, sealing a victory that electrified the arena and rewrote the tournament’s recent history.

With the win, Mexico snapped Puerto Rico’s streak of three consecutive Final Four titles, preventing the home team from securing a historic fourth straight gold.

Set scores: 26–28, 25–19, 25–21, 19–25, 15–11.

The Fifth Set: The Turning Point That Changed the Story

Puerto Rico appeared to be on its way to the title when it built a 10-6 lead in the deciding set. However, the closing moments of the match belonged entirely to Sofía Maldonado, who took over with a run of five consecutive points attacking from Zone 2. Her kills, combined with two attacking errors by Decelise Champion, turned the score around and gave Mexico a 13-10 advantage, a lead they never relinquished.

The final point came on an ace by Grecia Castro, sparking Mexico’s celebration at center court.

Statistically, Mexico held clear advantages: 68–47 in attacks, 9–7 in blocks, and 9–6 in aces.

Sofía Maldonado led the offense with 37 points, the highest scoring output of the entire tournament. She was supported in Mexico's attack by Samantha Bricio with 17 points and Uxue Guereca with 15.

For Puerto Rico, Decelise Champion was the top scorer with 24 points, followed by Adriana Rodríguez with 11.

Sofía Maldonado Díaz: The Spark of the Comeback

After the match, Sofía Maldonado Díaz reflected on the emotional intensity of the decisive moments and the significance of the victory for Mexico.

She described the closing stretch as “super exciting,” acknowledging the tension that defined the match and emphasizing that her scoring run was the product of collective effort. Playing in Puerto Rico, she noted, always brings a charged atmosphere, which made the triumph even more meaningful.

Stopping Puerto Rico’s three-title streak added weight to the win, but Maldonado highlighted an even broader objective: earning valuable points toward the world ranking. She explained that the team’s focus is long-term, guided by a coaching staff that prioritizes steady progress over comparisons with past champions.

“This win means a lot,” she said, underscoring that every point earned in NORCECA competitions—especially against teams like Puerto Rico or Cuba—is part of Mexico’s larger competitive project. The team, she affirmed, is “very happy” with both the victory and what it represents for their future.