US women rally past France for fifth straight Basketball World Cup title

The United States women’s basketball team overcame an early 14-point deficit to beat France 97-79 in Berlin, securing a fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal and a 12th overall.

France, unbeaten on its way to the final, led 45-43 at halftime after pushing the defending champions with fast, confident attacking play. The contest changed sharply after the break. The US raised its defensive pressure and moved the ball more quickly, winning the third quarter 30-12 and carrying a 73-57 lead into the final period.

Captain Breanna Stewart anchored the comeback with 22 points and 10 rebounds. She was named the tournament’s most valuable player and collected her fourth World Cup gold. Caitlin Clark added 12 points, while Jackie Young scored 18. France’s Dominique Malonga led her team with 21 points.

The result extended a two-decade run without an official defeat for the US and marked its 36th straight World Cup victory. Yet the tournament also showed how much the field is tightening: Italy and Spain challenged the champions earlier, while France held a substantial lead in the final before the third-quarter turnaround. France’s silver was its second World Cup medal and its first in 73 years, adding another notable achievement to a high-quality final.