Team USA’s path to a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup title was anything but easy. On Sunday, Sept. 13, the United States faced France in the championship game in Berlin, Germany and found themselves trailing by 14 points in the second quarter. But what initially looked like a potential upset quickly turned into another display of U.S. dominance, as Team USA stormed back to defeat France 97-79 and claim its 12th World Cup title.
France started their debut in the World Cup Final on a dominant 21-2 run, looking like they were going to run away with the lead. They entered the second quarter with a 31-17 lead, powered by Gabby Williams and Dominique Malonga. Williams fueled the early lead by putting up 16 points and 3 steals in the first half. Her dominant performance, along with her performance throughout the tournament, led to her being named the 2026 FIBA World Cup Best Defensive Player. Malonga was also a powerhouse for France, ending the game with a team-high 21 points.
In the second quarter, the U.S slowly began to chip away at the deficit, narrowing the lead by halftime. What had been a 14-point French advantage was down to two by the break, giving the Americans a chance to reset. Caitlin Clark was a key factor in shifting the momentum in favor of the U.S., hitting a crucial buzzer-beating three-pointer to close the first half and bring the Americans within two.
Halftime gave the U.S. time to regroup and take control in the third quarter, opening with a dominant 11-2 run to erase its deficit. The team’s momentum was further fueled by back-to-back three-pointers by Kahleah Cooper and Jackie Young. The U.S. also tightened up their defense, successfully shutting down Williams, forcing turnovers and limiting France’s outside shooting. The quarter ended with Clark answering a France three-pointer with a jumper, giving the U.S. to a 73-57 16-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The comeback was largely led by veteran team members, including Breanna Stewart. Stewart proved to be a leading force for the team, finishing with 22 points and 9 rebounds and earning tournament MVP honors. Stewart also became a four-time World Cup champion with the win. Napheesa Collier also played a key veteran role, providing an impressive defensive presence. The roles of Collier and Stewart once again demonstrated the reach of the UConn women’s basketball program beyond Storrs.
With the 97-79 victory, the U.S. secured its fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup title and 12th overall. Despite facing its largest deficit of the tournament in the championship game, the team responded with the same resilience that has made them practically untouchable on the international stage. France’s early lead showed that the U.S. would not simply cruise to another title, but by the final buzzer, the Americans had once again proved their ability to respond when challenged and finish the tournament as world champions.
With the World Cup now behind them, many of the players from both the U.S. and French teams will return to the WNBA for the remainder of the season. After competing against each other on the international stage, they will reunite with their WNBA teammates and, in some cases, face each other again as the league heads into postseason.