USA Wins Fifth Consecutive Women’s FIBA World Cup

The U.S. women’s basketball team triumphed over France to secure their fifth consecutive Women’s FIBA World Cup title with a 97-79 victory. This win extends the U.S. team’s World Cup winning streak to 36 games, a record dating back to a loss in the 2006 semifinals against Russia. The team has now achieved a 9-0 record in gold-medal games since placing second to the Soviet Union in 1983.

Despite the eventual score, the match presented significant challenges for the U.S. They faced a 14-point deficit in the first half but managed to reduce the gap with key performances from Breanna Stewart and Jackie Young. The team went into halftime trailing by just two points after Caitlin Clark hit a buzzer-beater three-pointer.

The U.S. surged ahead in the second half with a decisive 11-2 run early in the third quarter, giving them a 54-47 lead. Stewart and Young played critical roles, with Stewart finishing as the tournament MVP and scoring 22 points, while Young added 18 points. France attempted to close the gap but was hindered by two unsportsmanlike fouls, helping the U.S. enter the fourth quarter with a 73-57 lead.

This team marks the second-youngest lineup the U.S. has brought to a World Cup. Young players like Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers made their debuts alongside seasoned veterans who ultimately guided the team to victory.

The Americans appeared more vulnerable in this tournament, evidenced by a narrow three-point win over Italy in pool play and a 10-point match against Spain in the semifinals. Nonetheless, they maintained an impressive average margin of victory of 26 points across previous medal-round games, concluding once again as champions.

France’s performance, while commendable, left them with their best finish ever in this tournament. The loss was particularly poignant as they had narrowly lost to the U.S. in the 2024 Paris Olympic gold-medal game. Dominique Malonga and Gabby Williams led the French team with 21 and 20 points, respectively.

Spain earned the bronze medal by defeating Germany, the tournament’s host.