U.S. Pulls Away From France for Fifth Straight World Cup Title

The United States beat France 97-79 in Berlin to win the Women's Basketball World Cup for the fifth tournament in a row, according to BBC.

It is the Americans' 12th gold medal at the event. France was playing in its first World Cup final and made the champions work for it early.

France did not blink early. The French led 20-17 after the first quarter, moving the ball and holding their shape against full-court pressure.

Then came the third quarter. The U.S. outscored France 30-12 in those 10 minutes to turn a tight game into an 18-point win.

Breanna Stewart led the U.S. with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jackie Young added 18 points with six rebounds and five assists, giving the Americans scoring inside and out.

Dominique Malonga kept France in it with 21 points. She attacked the rim and finished through contact, but the U.S. had too many answers after halftime.

What makes this stand out is how long the run has lasted. The U.S. last failed to win this tournament in 2006, then won again four years ago in Australia before defending the title in Berlin.

That history now includes 36 straight World Cup wins, according to Le Monde. The Americans entered this 2026 tournament in Germany on a 30-game streak and never lost.

Spain took third place with an 81-58 win over Germany in Berlin. Spain had been the Americans' semifinal opponent on the road to the final.

For fans, this means the standard has not moved. Other teams are closing quarters and winning stretches. Winning four quarters against the U.S. is still the sport's hardest problem.