Team USA won its fifth consecutive FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup on Sunday, beating France 97-79 in Berlin after falling 14 points behind in the first half.
A 14-point hole
France started fast and led 31-17 early in the second quarter. The lead held into the break against a US team that had not lost a World Cup game since 2010. The final was a rematch of the 2024 Olympic gold medal game, which the United States won 67-66.
"Really proud of our players, they got this done," US coach Kara Lawson said. "In the biggest moments, they continue to play their best."
Third quarter turns it
The game flipped after halftime. The United States outscored France 30-12 in the third quarter, turning a deficit into control. Breanna Stewart finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jackie Young added 18 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The win extends the US World Cup winning streak to 36 games. Counting the Olympics, the program's combined winning run now stands at 72 games. It is the 12th World Cup title for the United States.
Berlin records and awards
Stewart was named TISSOT MVP for the second time, the first player to win the award twice. Gabby Williams of France was named Best Defensive Player, and Spain's Iyana Martin took the Rising Star award. Spain coach Miguel Mendez was voted Best Coach after his team beat Germany 81-58 in the third-place game.
Organisers said the tournament set a record for attendance across the event, which ran from September 4 to 13 at Berlin Arena with 16 teams. France reached the final behind Gabby Williams' scoring, beating host Germany in the semi-finals. Spain knocked out Australia in the quarter-finals before losing to the United States 76-66.
For the Americans, the pattern of the final matched the week: slow starts, then a run that opponents could not answer. France kept the game within reach for two quarters before the third period decided it.