USA vs France FIBA World Cup 2026 Final: Team USA captured their fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup championship on Sunday, September 13, dismantling France 97 to 79 in the gold medal final at Uber Arena in Berlin. Tied at 45 early in the third quarter, the Americans uncorked a relentless offensive surge driven by forward Breanna Stewart and guard Jackie Young, overpowering a spirited French side on the glass and pulling away for an emphatic 18-point victory to claim their twelfth global title overall.
USA vs France FIBA World Cup 2026 Final: Breanna Stewart And Jackie Young Fuel Decisive Second Half Surge
France entered the locker room brimming with confidence after lighting up the perimeter in the first half, draining eight of their fourteen attempts from beyond the arc.
French star Dominique Malonga attacked the paint for 21 points, while playmaker Gabby Williams orchestrated the offense with 20 points and seven assists to keep the pressure firmly on the reigning champions.
However, the game shifted dramatically following the break. Stewart took over inside the paint, finishing with 22 points and nine rebounds while consistently drawing contact around the rim.
Alongside her, Young attacked transition lanes with clinical precision, contributing 18 points and five assists. Guard Kahleah Copper added fifteen points off aggressive baseline drives, while Chelsea Gray and Caitlin Clark each scored twelve points.
Clark provided an immediate perimeter spark off the bench, knocking down four of five shots, including two crucial three-pointers that punished France for packing the paint.
USA vs France FIBA World Cup 2026 Final: Glass Dominance And Defensive Pressure Overwhelm French Resistance
The turning point emerged in the painted area, where the Americans utilized superior length to dominate the rebounding battle, 36 to 27. USA generated critical second-chance opportunities, suffocating France’s offensive rhythm and forcing rushed jumpers down the stretch.
A ferocious 20 to 6 run spanning the late third and early fourth quarters expanded the American advantage to 27 points, effectively extinguishing any hopes of a late French comeback in front of a stunned Berlin crowd.
Despite valiant efforts from Williams and Malonga, France could not withstand the sustained physical tempo and overwhelming roster depth displayed by the champions.
The victory extends an unprecedented era of American dominance on the international basketball stage, cementing this roster’s status as an unstoppable force entering the next major competitive cycle.
Result: USA 97, France 79
