The United States beat France 97–79 to win gold at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026

The United States won the gold medal at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 at Uber Arena in Berlin on Sunday, September 13, beating France 97–79. France took silver.

Breanna Stewart led the United States with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists on 7-of-10 shooting. The clearest differences were the offensive glass (12 offensive rebounds to 6) and field-goal accuracy (56.3 percent to 48.1 percent).

How the game unfolded

France led 20–17 after the first quarter. The United States won the second quarter 26–25, and France led 45–43 at halftime.

The United States won the third quarter 30–12, leaving the score at 73–57 with a quarter to play. The United States then took the fourth quarter 24–22.

The United States won three of the four quarters, and the 18-point final margin was the widest of the game at any quarter break.

According to the play-by-play, the lead changed hands 6 times and the score was tied 6 times. The United States’ largest lead was 27 points, at 86–59 with 6:07 left in the fourth quarter. France’s biggest advantage was 14 points, in the second quarter.

France last led with 0:04 left in the second quarter, and the last tie came with 8:18 left in the third quarter; the United States did not trail after that.

The stretch that decided it

The play-by-play shows where the United States pulled away for good: leading 55–51 with 4:45 left in the third quarter, the United States outscored France 31–8 over the next stretch to lead 86–59 with 6:07 left in the fourth quarter.

France turned the ball over 6 times in that stretch; the United States recorded 2 steals; and Caitlin Clark scored 9 and Kahleah Copper scored 5 of the 31 points in the run.

Why the United States won

The United States’ margin came from measurable differences in the box score. The widest were the offensive glass (12 offensive rebounds to 6), field-goal accuracy (56.3 percent to 48.1 percent) and ball movement (21 assists to 15).

The United States also won the overall rebounding battle 38–25, and the 6-rebound edge on the offensive glass meant second chances France did not get.

The United States shot 36 of 64 (56.3 percent) from the field, 8 of 19 from three and 17 of 25 at the line; France went 26 of 54 (48.1 percent), 11 of 24 from three and 16 of 25 on free throws.

France held the edge in bench scoring (35 points to 24), which did not offset the rest.

Who delivered

Breanna Stewart was the United States’ most productive player, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in 30 minutes. She shot 7 of 10 from the field and 8 of 9 at the line, with 2 turnovers. That was more than double the 11 points she had averaged over her previous five games of the tournament.

Jackie Young, a starter, added 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in 30 minutes on 7 of 14 from the field and 4 of 7 from three. She came in averaging 11.2 points over five earlier games of the tournament.

Chelsea Gray, a starter, added 12 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 27 minutes on 5 of 9 from the field, 0 of 3 from three and 2 of 2 at the line. That was more than double the 4.4 points she had averaged over her previous five games of the tournament.

Kahleah Copper, a starter, added 15 points in 29 minutes on 5 of 9 from the field, 2 of 3 from three and 3 of 4 at the line. She came in averaging 7.8 points over five earlier games of the tournament.

Rhyne Howard contributed away from scoring with 4 steals.

The United States’ reserves scored 24 of the team’s 97 points; the France bench scored 35.

What France couldn’t overcome

Dominique Malonga led France with 21 points and 6 rebounds on 8 of 12 from the field, 1 of 1 from three and 4 of 5 at the line; Gabby Williams added 20 points and Janelle Salaun added 7 points.

Carla Leite had 4 turnovers and Marine Johannes had 5 turnovers, part of a 16-turnover game for France.

France’s best period was the first quarter, won 20–17, but the United States won the quarters that followed.

What gold means

Gold gives the United States first place at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, played in Berlin; France takes silver.

In the group stage the United States beat China 94–61, beat Italy 55–52 and beat Czechia 105–64. It then beat Hungary 108–56 in the quarterfinal and beat Spain 76–66 in the semifinal. That 5–0 record became 6–0 with this win.

In the group stage France beat Hungary 99–53, beat South Korea 95–69 and beat Nigeria 111–56. It then beat China 90–61 in the quarterfinal and beat Germany 86–64 in the semifinal. France finishes the tournament 5–1.

WNBA connection

Twenty players on current WNBA rosters appeared in this game, matched to their WNBA profiles by identical ESPN athlete IDs: Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces), Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury), Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever), Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics), Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream), Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings) and Kiki Iriafen (Washington Mystics) for the United States; Dominique Malonga (Seattle Storm), Gabby Williams (Golden State Valkyries), Janelle Salaun (Golden State Valkyries), Valeriane Ayayi (Phoenix Mercury), Carla Leite (Portland Fire), Pauline Astier (New York Liberty), Leila Lacan (Connecticut Sun) and Marine Johannes (New York Liberty) for France.

Among them, Breanna Stewart finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists; Jackie Young finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists; Chelsea Gray finished with 12 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists; and Kahleah Copper finished with 15 points.