Caitlin Clark sparked Team USA off the bench as Breanna Stewart led a 97-79 win over France, securing the Americans’ fifth straight World Cup title.
Caitlin Clark provided a major spark off the bench as Team USA overcame France 97-79 to capture its fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup championship.
The Americans trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half before turning the game around in dominant fashion after halftime. Breanna Stewart delivered a double-double, while Clark made several timely plays that helped Team USA pull away for another gold medal.
Caitlin Clark makes impact off the bench
Clark entered the World Cup final as a reserve but made her presence felt during critical stretches.
The Indiana Fever star played roughly 12 minutes and finished with 12 points and three assists. She hit a buzzer-beating shot before halftime that cut France’s lead to two points, giving the Americans important momentum heading into the break.
Clark later connected on another three-pointer as Team USA continued extending its advantage in the second half.
Her ability to provide scoring in limited minutes added another dimension to a U.S. team that relied on both veteran leadership and contributions from its younger players.
Breanna Stewart leads Team USA
While Clark supplied an important spark, Stewart was the central figure in the Americans’ championship performance.
Stewart scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double, shooting 70% from the field. Her performance earned her tournament MVP honors.
Jackie Young also played a major role, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. She was named player of the game.
The veteran leadership from Stewart and the contributions from players such as Young helped Team USA recover from its difficult opening half.
France takes early control
France appeared poised to challenge the Americans for the championship after jumping out to a strong start.
Gabby Williams and Dominique Malonga led the French attack. Malonga scored 21 points, while Williams added 20.
France built a 14-point advantage in the first half, creating the biggest deficit Team USA faced during its championship run. But the Americans steadily chipped away at the lead before Clark’s late three-pointer brought them within two points at halftime.
Team USA dominates the third quarter
The game changed dramatically after halftime.
Team USA erupted for a 30-12 third quarter, turning a close contest into a commanding American advantage. France struggled to find its shooting rhythm, making only four field goals during the quarter.
That defensive and offensive surge allowed the Americans to take control and carry a sizable lead into the fourth quarter.
Once Team USA established its rhythm, France could not mount another comeback.
Fifth straight World Cup title
The 97-79 victory gave Team USA its fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup championship and its 12th World Cup gold medal overall.
The Americans have now won 36 straight games in World Cup competition, dating back to their semifinal loss to Russia in 2006. The latest championship also extended the U.S. dominance of international women’s basketball.
France, meanwhile, earned its best-ever finish at the World Cup by reaching the championship game for the first time.
Clark adds to Team USA’s next generation
The victory also highlighted the growing role of younger American stars.
Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese were among the players representing a new generation of Team USA talent during the tournament. Their emergence alongside established stars such as Stewart gives the Americans considerable depth heading toward future international competitions.
For Clark, the championship provided another high-profile moment on the international stage. Her performance off the bench demonstrated that she could make an impact even without a starting role.
Team USA ultimately needed contributions from across its roster to overcome France, and Clark’s timely scoring became one of the defining moments of the comeback.
Team USA remains on top
The Americans entered the final facing their toughest challenge of the tournament, but they responded with their most decisive performance when the stakes were highest.
Stewart’s dominant showing, Young’s all-around contribution and Clark’s timely scoring helped Team USA erase a double-digit deficit and finish with a 97-79 victory.
The result keeps the U.S. at the top of women’s international basketball while giving Clark and the next generation of American stars a World Cup championship to build on.
