The U.S. women’s basketball team secured its fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup victory by overcoming France in a challenging match. The final score was 97-79, marking the Americans’ 36th consecutive World Cup win, a streak stretching back to the 2006 semifinals. The U.S. has now won 9 gold medals since finishing second to the Soviet Union in 1983.
The match began with a strong performance from France, which led by 14 points in the first half. However, the U.S. team, led by Breanna Stewart and Jackie Young, fought back to narrow the gap to two points by halftime. Caitlin Clark’s 3-pointer just before the buzzer was a crucial moment.
In the second half, the U.S. dominated with an 11-2 run in the third quarter, going up 54-47. Stewart, now with four World Cup titles, contributed four points during this surge. She was also named the tournament MVP, scoring a total of 22 points, while Young added 18.
France struggled to keep pace as the U.S. went on a 16-3 run, which included two unsportsmanlike fouls on France. By the end of the third quarter, the U.S. led 73-57, and France couldn’t close the gap.
This team was among the youngest ever sent by the U.S. to a World Cup, featuring newcomers like Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers. Yet, the veterans played a key role in securing victory.
Throughout the tournament, the U.S. faced strong challenges. They narrowly defeated Italy by three points in pool play, the closest a team has come to beating them in the group stage in the last 50 years. A 10-point win over Spain marked the closest semifinal during their winning streak. Despite these challenges, the Americans maintained their championship record.
France achieved its best finish ever, despite the loss. They had aimed for the top spot after a close defeat to the U.S. in the 2024 Paris Olympic final. Dominique Malonga and Gabby Williams led France with 21 and 20 points, respectively.
France started strong, leading 20-17 after the first quarter and expanding their lead to 31-17 early in the second. However, the U.S. team closed the gap to 45-43 by halftime with Clark’s timely 3-pointer.
Spain secured the bronze medal by defeating host Germany.
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