USWNT Makes History: Fifth Consecutive World Cup Title Secured Against France!

Team USA faced unprecedented vulnerability entering and during the 2026 women's basketball World Cup in Berlin.

With veterans A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum late scratches, and France, a formidable opponent, posing a serious threat, the team's path to gold was fraught with challenges.

Close victories against Italy in the group phase and Spain in the semifinals intensified external doubts, with many speculating that Team USA might miss out on a major international tournament gold for the first time since 2006.

However, team captain Breanna Stewart exuded a quiet, almost unrealistic confidence before the final showdown against France. Drawing on her extensive experience, she emphasized the importance of emotional composure and staying locked in for a long game.

Her self-belief proved prophetic, as she led Team USA to a decisive 97-79 victory over France just 24 hours later.

Stewart's stellar performance in the final, featuring 22 points and 10 rebounds, earned her the World Cup MVP honors.

She prides herself on consistency, especially in high-pressure moments, believing she always has a chance to win.

This victory further solidified her status as arguably the most decorated player in the sport's history, adding a fourth World Cup gold to her impressive resume, which also includes four NCAA championships, three WNBA titles, and three Olympic gold medals, tying Sue Bird's record for World Cup golds.

Coach Kara Lawson highlighted Stewart's indispensable leadership throughout the tournament. Stewart, a stalwart for USA Basketball for over a decade, has become a pillar of this era alongside Wilson.

Her on-court productivity and leadership were never more crucial, particularly given the team's composition: only three players (Stewart, Chelsea Gray, and Kahleah Copper) had prior World Cup experience, and seven of the twelve had never represented the senior national team in a major tournament.

Stewart consistently led Team USA in scoring (12.8 PPG), rebounds (7.3 RPG), and efficiency rating (18.8), anchoring the defense and even stepping in as point guard when needed.

Beyond her statistics, Stewart's willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team, a rare quality in a player of her caliber, was deeply appreciated by Coach Lawson.

Her most significant contribution might have been off the court, where she served as the standard-bearer, ensuring the younger generation understood the expectations and navigated the immense pressure of representing the U.S.

After a narrow win against Italy, Stewart reassured younger players, recalling her own experience in the 2014 World Cup where USA lost an exhibition to France but still won the tournament.

Caitlin Clark echoed this sentiment, praising Stewart's vocal leadership and advice to remain composed despite challenges.

Stewart's message was pivotal, especially when France surged ahead by 14 points in the second quarter—the first double-digit deficit Team USA had faced in a World Cup game since their last loss in the event in 2006.

The team's ability to internalize her message allowed them to cut the deficit to two by halftime and dominate the third quarter 30-12.

Stewart's peers, including Chelsea Gray and Paige Bueckers, acknowledged her exceptional skill, competitive drive, and ability to unite the team, recognizing that such consistent excellence is not accidental.

As new talents like Bueckers, Clark, Angel Reese, and Aliyah Boston learn from Stewart's winning ethos, the future of USA Basketball looks bright. Stewart, however, is not ready to relinquish her role, expressing her desire to continue winning on the biggest stages. When asked about running it back at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, she confidently declared, "Oh yeah, see you in L.A.!"