The U.S. women’s basketball team overcame a challenging start against France to win its fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup, finishing with a 97-79 victory. This win marks the team’s 36th straight World Cup victory since their loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals.
In the final, held in Berlin on September 13, 2026, the U.S. faced a significant test as France took a 14-point lead in the first half. The American team, led by Breanna Stewart and Jackie Young, rallied to close the gap to two points by halftime. Caitlin Clark’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer helped the U.S. regain composure.
The second half saw the Americans dominate with an 11-2 run in the third quarter, turning the game around to lead 54-47. Stewart contributed four points during this crucial period, helping her team seize control.
Stewart was named tournament MVP, scoring 22 points, while Young added 18. Despite France’s efforts to narrow the score, they could not overcome the American lead. An unsportsmanlike foul against France allowed the U.S. to extend their advantage to 73-57 by the end of the third quarter.
This U.S. team, the second youngest ever sent to the World Cup, included newcomers like Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers. Veteran players played a vital role in securing the championship.
The Americans showed vulnerability in the tournament, with a narrow three-point victory over Italy in pool play and a hard-fought 10-point win over Spain in the semifinals. Nonetheless, they ultimately defended their title, maintaining an average victory margin of 26 points in recent medal rounds.
France achieved its best finish in the World Cup, hoping to improve on their second-place finish against the U.S. in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Dominique Malonga and Gabby Williams starred for France, scoring 21 and 20 points respectively.
In other results, Spain claimed the bronze medal by defeating Germany.