Team USA rallied from a 14-point deficit to defeat France 97-79 on Sunday and capture its fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup championship, extending one of the most dominant runs in international basketball history. The victory gave the United States its 12th World Cup title and its 36th consecutive win in the tournament, with its last World Cup defeat coming against Russia in the 2006 semifinals.
France controlled much of the opening half and built a 21-2 run behind Gabby Williams before the Americans began to recover. Caitlin Clark’s 3-pointer helped cut the deficit to two points by halftime, and the U.S. took control after the break as Kahleah Copper and Jackie Young connected from long range. Another deep 3 from Clark helped push the American advantage to 19 points in the fourth quarter.
Breanna Stewart led all scorers with 22 points and added nine rebounds, while Young finished with 18 points and five assists. Copper scored 15, and Clark contributed 12 points and four assists. The United States also held a 36-27 advantage on the boards, helping it overcome France’s strong start and pull away decisively in the second half.
The championship marked another chapter in the Americans’ sustained international dominance. France, playing in its first World Cup final, earned the silver medal after reaching the championship game with an 86-64 semifinal victory over host Germany. Spain defeated Germany 81-58 earlier Sunday to take bronze. The U.S. title also tied the former Soviet Union’s record of five consecutive World Cup championships, achieved from 1959 through 1975.
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