Team USA just went golden AGAIN, snatching their fifth straight World Cup gold medal by defeating France 97-79 in Berlin! This wasn’t just another win, it was a massive statement, securing their 12th overall World Cup gold and tying the legendary Soviet Union (1959-1975) for the most consecutive titles in the tournament’s history. Seriously, talk about a dynasty!
Stewie’s Historic Run Continues: Unstoppable
At the heart of this unstoppable American force is our very own former Husky, Breanna Stewart. She absolutely led the charge in the final, dropping 22 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out four assists. This isn’t her first rodeo either, she’s now got four straight World Cup gold medals! Less than 20 seconds into the game, her pair of free throws moved her up to No. 5 on Team USA’s all-time World Cup career scoring list with 288 total points. Oh, and she was named the 2026 FIBA World Cup MVP, averaging 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. That’s her second World Cup MVP, the first was back in 2018. But here’s the kicker, the stat that just makes your jaw drop: Stewie’s career streak of never losing an NCAA Tournament, Olympic, or World Cup game? Yeah, that’s still going strong. The woman just doesn’t lose on the biggest stages!
France Put Up a Fight, But The USA Dynasty Kicked Into Overdrive
France definitely brought the heat, giving the U.S. its hardest challenge of this World Cup. The game had everything, six lead changes and six ties, with five lead changes and four ties in just the first quarter alone! Team USA even trailed by 14 in the second quarter. But you know how these American squads roll when it’s crunch time. The third quarter started, and BAM! Stewart and Collier went back-to-back with layups, putting USA ahead less than a minute in. Those two combined for six points in a lightning-fast 9-2 run in the first three minutes of the quarter. The momentum shift was real, folks. Team USA went full throttle, playing with a renewed aggression and energy, outscoring France a dominant 30-12 in that third frame. They locked down the French, holding them to just one made three-pointer and keeping France’s former Husky star Gabby Williams scoreless the entire quarter. Dominique Malonga, our Seattle Storm forward, led France with an impressive 21 points and six rebounds, while Gabby Williams still put up 20 points, seven assists, three rebounds, and three steals despite the third quarter drought. Jackie Young was huge too, scoring 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and was the only U.S. player to hit double figures in all six games, earning her MVP for Sunday’s final. Even former Husky Paige Bueckers got her first gold, which is awesome to see!
Team USA has now won 36 straight World Cup games and hasn’t lost a major international tournament game since 2006. What a legacy! The Emerald City is watching, and we’re absolutely buzzing to see these incredible athletes, including our local stars, continue to dominate on the world stage. That undefeated streak for Stewie is just pure magic!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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