Team USA defeated France 97-79 in a comeback win to earn its 12th FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup title. The Americans have brought home gold every year since 2010.
FIBA stands for Fédération Internationale de Basketball, or in English, the International Basketball Federation. According to their official website, “FIBA is the sport’s world governing body.” Founded in 1932, this organization works to globally develop the sport of basketball. Every four years, they host a tournament where the best national teams in the world compete.
This year, Berlin hosted 16 women’s national teams to compete in the 5×5 tournament. FIBA also put on a 3×3 tournament in Shanghai, which concluded on Sept. 6, with France taking home gold.
On Sunday, Sept. 13, USA faced off against France in the 5×5 championship game. The starting five for the red, white, and blue consisted of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart. The first half of the matchup proved to be a close one. The score was 45-44, with France in the lead at the end of quarter two.
The gold medal game was tied six times and also had six lead changes. Team USA broke ahead after halftime, outscoring France 30-12 in the third quarter. Copper sparked the momentum for the US and notched eight points and a steal in quarter three. The final score of the contest was 97-79. USA shot more accurately from the field compared to France, with field-goal percentages at 57.1 and 48.1.
In the final game of the tournament, Stewart led the scoring with 22 points, and Young was not far behind with 18. Caitlin Clark came off the bench to contribute 12 points in her World Cup debut.
Stewart wasn’t just a force on offence, but she proved dominant in many areas of the game. The center also tallied 10 rebounds and four assists in her 30 minutes of playing time. This standout performance, as well as her 12.8 points-per-game tournament average, earned her the 2026 MVP title. Stewart is now the only female athlete to have multiple FIBA MVP awards, as she also won it in 2018.
What’s Next?
Team USA players are to immediately return home and continue competing in the WNBA season. The final regularly scheduled games don’t conclude until Sept. 24. The league took a two-week break for the World Cup and is to resume on the 16th of September.
With the playoffs beginning on Sept. 27, all eight teams have their spots clinched. Players like Stewart, Clark, and Napheesa Collier, who just won the World Cup gold medal for the USA, are also set to compete for a national championship in the next few weeks.
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