22 and 10: Stewart Seals USA's Fifth Straight Gold
USA beat France 97-79 for a fifth straight Women's World Cup gold after trailing by 14; Stewart 22 and 10, Young 18-6-5, Clark's horn three to 45-43.
Photo: WNBA.com / New York Liberty. Official league headshot, 1040×760, full head.
USA beat France 97-79 in Berlin for a fifth straight Women's World Cup gold after trailing by 14.
Breanna Stewart finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Jackie Young added 18, 6, and 5. Caitlin Clark's horn three cut it to 45-43.
Berlin Arena opened like Paris with the roles flipped. France owned the first eight minutes, then stretched the lead to 14 early in the second. Williams was already cooking from deep. The Americans looked late on the closeouts that had saved them against Italy and Spain. Then the starters settled the possession count. Stewart finished through the paint. Young caught fire from three. Gray found both. Caitlin Clark's last-second triple before the horn cut it to 45-43, the narrowest first-half lead FIBA has recorded in this competition. Halftime was two points. The argument was still live.
The third erased it. USA outscored France 30-12. Copper and Boston found the floor. Stewart and Young never gave the lead back. Howard finished with four steals on the French backcourt. Clark checked back in for 12 points in 13 minutes on 4-of-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from three. Quarters went 17-20, 26-25, 30-12, 24-22. Final 97-79. Attendance 12,233.
Photo: FIBA. Breanna Stewart #10 with Jackie Young #13 and Aliyah Boston #14 during Women's World Cup coverage at Berlin Arena. Official FIBA still lhpo1phqzwydyozlcmva, landscape, full head. Never stack with the headshot.
Stewart's double-double carried a performance efficiency of 30. Young went 7-of-14 with four threes. Gabby Williams led France with 20 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Dominique Malonga put up 21 and 6. Neither line held once the Americans won the third. This is USA's 12th Women's World Cup title and a 36-game World Cup winning streak dating to the 2006 Russia semifinal loss. Paris 2024 ended by a point. Berlin ended by 18 after the 14-point hole. France still leaves with its first World Cup podium since 1953. The gold stays in the room that climbed out of 14.
Sources
- FIBA: Comeback Queens USA go five in a row — USA 97-79 France; Stewart 22/10 EFF 30; Young 18/6/5; France led by 14 early Q2; Clark last-second triple to 45-43 (narrowest first-half lead in competition history); USA 26 in Q2, 30 in Q3; 12th title; 36-game WC win streak
- FIBA game page: USA vs France — final 97-79; quarters USA 17/26/30/24, FRA 20/25/12/22; attendance 12,233; Stewart game leader EFF 30
- ESPN box: United States 97-79 France — Stewart 30 min 22 PTS 7-10 FG 8-9 FT 10 REB 4 AST; Young 30/18/7-14/4-7 3PT/6/5; Clark 13/12/4-5/2-3 3PT/1/3; Copper 15; Gray 12/4/5; Howard 4 STL; Williams 33/20/6-16/4-8 3PT/3/7/3 STL; Malonga 20/21/8-12/6
- Sporting News live: USA 97 France 79 — half FRA 45-43; end Q3 USA 73-57; Clark half-horn three; Young 15/5/5 milestone note mid-game
- Bleacher Report box highlights — 97-79; fifth consecutive title; Stewart/Young/Gray/Clark lines
- Photos: WNBA.com Stewart 1627668; FIBA still lhpo1phqzwydyozlcmva
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