Team USA remains the standard in women’s international basketball.
The Americans captured the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on Sunday in Berlin, overcoming their biggest deficit of the tournament before defeating France 97-79 in the championship game. The victory delivered the United States its 12th World Cup title and fifth consecutive gold medal in the competition.
For a while, however, the final looked considerably more uncomfortable than the final score suggests.
France, appearing in its first Women’s World Cup final, attacked the defending champions without hesitation and built a 14-point advantage during the second quarter. Gabby Williams helped drive an early French surge as the Americans struggled to establish control. Team USA gradually recovered, cutting the deficit to just two points by halftime and ensuring that France’s outstanding opening half did not translate into a commanding lead.
The game changed completely after the break.
The United States overwhelmed France 30-12 in the third quarter, turning a close championship game into another demonstration of the depth and physical pressure that have defined its dynasty. Kahleah Copper and Jackie Young hit consecutive three-pointers during the decisive run, and France never fully recovered once the Americans established control.
Breanna Stewart once again stood at the center of it all. The USA captain scored a game-high 22 points and was subsequently named tournament MVP, earning the honor for the second time in her career. Young added 18 points, while Copper finished with 15 and Caitlin Clark scored 12. France received 21 points from Dominique Malonga and 20 from Williams, but its offense could not maintain the pace it established early.
The title completed another dominant tournament for the Americans. After progressing through the opening stage, Team USA demolished Hungary 108-56 in the quarterfinals before facing a far more difficult test against Spain in the semifinals. The Americans eventually pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 76-66 victory to secure another appearance in the gold-medal game.
France then provided the toughest challenge of the final, but even a 14-point deficit was not enough to end the United States’ remarkable run.
With the victory, Team USA extended its World Cup winning streak to 36 games. The Americans have not lost a game in the tournament since Russia defeated them in the 2006 semifinals, and their fifth consecutive World Cup championship matches the historic run of the Soviet Union, which also won five straight titles.
The achievement also continues an extraordinary two-decade stretch in which the United States has remained unbeaten in Olympic and World Cup competition.
What made the latest championship different was that Team USA had to respond to genuine adversity. France landed the first major punch, Spain pushed the Americans deep into their semifinal, and the rest of the world again showed signs of closing the gap. But when the championship was decided, the result remained familiar.
Stewart raised another trophy, Team USA stood atop the podium, and a dynasty that began long before many members of the current roster reached the national team added yet another chapter: five World Cups in a row, 12 overall, and still no sign that the gold standard is ready to change hands.
