Team USA captured its fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup title, defeating France 97-79 on Sunday in Berlin. WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Jackie Young combined for 40 points to lead the American comeback after the team trailed by as many as 14 points in the second quarter.
The victory extended the United States' World Cup winning streak to 36 games. Team USA has not lost a World Cup game since 2006 and has won nine gold medal games since their second-place finish in 1983. This marks their fifth consecutive championship win.
Game Progression
France established an early lead, taking a 20-17 advantage after the first quarter. The French team then scored the first 11 points of the second quarter to extend their lead to 31-17. However, a late rally by the U.S., including a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Caitlin Clark before halftime, narrowed the deficit to 45-43 at the break.
Team USA dominated the third quarter, starting with an 11-2 run to take a 54-47 lead. Tournament MVP Breanna Stewart contributed four points to this decisive surge. Although France managed to close the gap to 55-51, the Americans responded with a 16-3 run, capitalizing on two unsportsmanlike fouls called against France on the same play. By the end of the third quarter, the U.S. held a commanding 73-57 lead, a margin France could not overcome.
Breanna Stewart led the American team with 22 points, and Jackie Young added 18. Caitlin Clark scored 12 points off the bench in 13 minutes, adding four turnovers.
Dominique Malonga scored 21 points and Gabby Williams added 20 for France, who achieved their best finish ever in the event. The loss marked a close contest for France against the U.S., echoing their narrow 67-66 defeat in the final of the Paris Summer Olympics two years prior.
Team Composition and Tournament Performance
The American roster featured several newcomers to the national team, including Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, making this one of the youngest teams the U.S. has sent to a World Cup. Despite the youth, veteran leadership proved crucial in securing the championship.
Throughout the tournament, the U.S. team faced closer matches than in previous championship runs. A three-point victory over Italy in pool play and a 10-point win against Spain in the semifinals were among the tighter contests. Prior to the final, the Americans had been winning medal-round games by an average of 26 points.
Spain secured the bronze medal by defeating host Germany.