Breanna Stewart and the U.S. confronted a stiff problem from France earlier than dominating within the second half to win its fifth consecutive girls’s FIBA World Cup.
The 97-79 victory prolonged the People’ streak to 36 straight World Cup wins, courting again to the semifinal of the 2006 World Cup, once they misplaced to Russia. The U.S. improved to 9-0 in gold-medal video games since ending second in 1983 to the Soviet Union.
Regardless of the ultimate rating, this one wasn’t straightforward; the People confronted their largest deficit within the event in a very long time, trailing by 14 factors within the first half. They calmly rallied behind Stewart and Jackie Younger to get inside two at halftime, and Caitlin Clark hit a 3-pointer simply earlier than the buzzer.
The U.S. dominated within the second half, beginning the third quarter with a 11-2 run to go up 54-47. Stewart, who has now 4 World Cup titles to her title, had 4 factors in the course of the game-changing burst.
Stewart, who was named the event MVP, completed with 22 factors and Younger with 18.
France was capable of get inside 55-51, however the People used a 16-3 spurt that included France being referred to as for 2 unsportsmanlike fouls on the identical play. The People have been up 73-57 heading into the fourth quarter, and France by no means was capable of shut the hole.
This was the second-youngest group the People have despatched to a World Cup. There have been many newcomers on the roster together with Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, who have been getting their first expertise with the nationwide group. But it surely was the veterans who carried the group to the victory.
The People had appeared extra susceptible on this event than at any time throughout their outstanding run. A 3-point win over Italy in pool play was the closest a group has come to the U.S. in group stage in 50 years. The ten-point victory over Spain was the closest semifinal contest in the course of the streak. The People had been profitable by a mean of 26 factors over the previous 4 medal-round video games.
None of that matter ultimately because the People completed the identical method they’d the earlier 4 World Cup tournaments — as champions.
The loss however gave France its finest end ever within the occasion. The French have been hoping for the highest prize after they got here shut towards the U.S. within the 2024 Paris Olympic gold-medal recreation two years in the past. That one-point loss nonetheless stung two years later.
Dominique Malonga scored 21 factors and Gabby Williams added 20 for France.
France bought off to a robust begin. The U.S. trailed 20-17 after the primary quarter and the French scored the primary 11 factors of the second, capped by Williams’ 3-pointer, to take a 31-17 lead. However the People rallied and trailed 45-43 on the half on Clark’s 3 simply earlier than the buzzer.
Spain topped host Germany to win the bronze medal.
Revealed on Sep 14, 2026