USA beat France to win fifth straight World Cup title
The USA survived an early scare, trailing France by 14 points, before a 30-12 third quarter carried them to a 97-79 win and a fifth straight world title.
It was a rematch of the 2024 Olympic final in Paris, which the Americans won by a single point. This time the margin was more comfortable, though it did not look that way for long stretches. The USA had not lost a World Cup match since 2006, yet arrived in the final looking shakier than usual, having needed to see off unheralded Italy and then Spain in the semi-finals.
France had never been closer than 20 points to a team all tournament and rode that form into their first ever World Cup final. They started the better side. Breanna Stewart gave the Americans an early five-point cushion, but France answered with a 21-2 run led by Gabby Williams that put them 14 points up early in the second quarter.
The US chipped away and were still behind at the break, saved by a Caitlin Clark three-pointer at the buzzer that cut the gap to two points. The turning point came in the third quarter, where the Americans outscored France 30-12. Consecutive triples from Kahleah Copper and Jackie Young broke France's resistance, and the French never recovered their composure after leading by as many as 14 in the first half.
Stewart finished as top scorer with 22 points. For France, silver is still the best finish in the Country's World Cup history, and revenge for Paris will have to wait.
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