The United States captured their fifth straight FIBA Women's World Cup trophy with a 97-79 victory over France in Berlin . Led by Breanna Stewart, the Americans ovrecame an early deficit to extend a historic winning streak that has spanned nearly two decades.
Surviving the 31-17 French surge at Uber Arena
The United States faced its most significant challenge of the tournament during the early stages of the final at Uber Arena . As the report notes, France capitalized on an aggressive start to build a 31-17 lead, fueled by a three-pointer from Gabby Williams. This 14-point gap represented the largest deficit the Americans had endured throughout the entire competition.
The momentum shifted when the U.S. offense ignited, producing a 26-14 run to narrow the gap before halftime. This resurgence was punctuated by a three-pointer from Caitlin Clark just before the buzzer, which helped the Americans reach a 45-43 score at the half. The Americans then dominated the third quarter, outscoring France 30-12 to take control of the game. This decisive period included an 11-2 run and was aided by France being called for two unsportsmanlike fouls on a single play.
Extending a 36-game winning streak since 2006
This victory in Berlin extends the United States' winning streak in the FIBA Women's World Cup to 36 games. This remarkable run of dominance has persisted since the team suffered a semifinal loss to Russia in 2006. Furthermore, the Americans have maintained a perfect 9-0 record in gold-medal games since their 1983 loss to the Soviet Union.
Despite the championship win, the tournament highlighted growing competition for the American squad. According to the match details, the U.S. appeared more vulnerable than in previous years, narrowly escaping an Italy matchup in pool play and facing a tight 10-point margin against Spain in the semifinals. Previously, the Americans had been winning by an average of 26 points over their last four medal-round games, suggesting the margin of victory is tightening.
Breanna Stewart’s second MVP and the rise of Clark and Reese
Breanna Stewart anchored the championship run with 22 points and 10 rebounds, earning her second World Cup MVP award. stewart’s veteran leadership was essential for a roster that featured some of the youngest players ever sent to a World Cup, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers.. Stewart noted that the group remained composed even when falling behind, stating, "Our group, our starters, especially when we got down big, we did not crumble under pressure."
While the newcomers provided flashes of brilliance, the veteran core of Stewart, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray secured the win. Young contributed 18 points and six rebounds , while Gray added 12 points and five assists to ensure the U.S. pulled away during the second half.
Can France close the gap after their best-ever finish?
France finished the tournament with its highest placement in history, led by 21 points from Dominique Malonga and 20 points from Gabby Williams. The French team entered the final with high expectations following their close encounter with the U.S. during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Williams had previously signaled France's intent to challenge the Americans,telling the team at the WNBA All-Star game, "we are coming for you."
One question remains regarding the trajectory of international women's basketball : is the gap between the United States and the rest of the world finally narrowing? While the Americans remain the standard, the narrow margins seen against Italy and Spain suggest that the era of undisputed dominance may be facing its most intense period of scrutiny from rising powers like France .
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