An epic surge sparked by a Caitlin Clark buzzer beater gave the USA all they needed to romp past France. Emmet Ryan reflects on a final that looked there for the taking for Gabby Williams and co but, in the end, the Americans claimed the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup crown. It was a game where Kara Lawson confounded her critics and Breanna Stewart drove the US to gold.
The USA saved its best for last. An utterly dominant third quarter explosion ensured the undefeated streak continues. France looked poised to deny the Americans for the first time in 20 years.
For 20 minutes, it certainly looked like they would. Instead, they wilted when it mattered most and the Americans won their fifth straight FIBA Women’s World Cup.
The most obvious tension
France were underdogs according to the bookies, the spread was around 7.5 points in favour of the US. Yet the overwhelming majority of people that had actually watched this tournament closely expected Les Bleus to win it all.
They had been, by a wide margin, the most impressive outfit throughout the competition so far. The USA, while unbeaten, were clearly hindered by an obstinate strategy to stick with their starters. It made for an odd combination as France were filled with belief while the Americans couldn’t exactly lean on an underdog mentality.
Kara Lawson opted to go with the same starting five that she had all tournament. It’s a decision she has been criticised for repeatedly, including by this site. Yet There was a clear belief that she had to prove herself right in the biggest game of all.
Stewie gets focal
When the USA has succeeded with its veteran line-up at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, it has usually involved running the offensive game through Breanna Stewart. They went for this early, with the resultant space also creating opportunities for those around her.
Crucially for the Americans, it meant that France didn’t run out to a huge lead early. So far in this tournament, once the Americans start to bring in the youngsters, they’ve been able to perform far better against all opponents.
Yet still, the intensity was clearly greater from France. That Was particularly visible on the defensive end. It was hardly like they lacked depth either. Being able to bring Marie Johannes and Dom Malonga off the bench doesn’t hurt.
France mixing it up
The natural assumption going into this one was that we’d see Gabby Williams rammed down the throats of the USA on both ends. France however were far more nuanced with her usage in the first half. Granted it only took 7 seconds of the whole game for her to stop the clock, when she kicked the ball while reaching for a steal.
Instead it was a smart mix of using what they had on a situational basis. Carla Leite was acting almost like a sweeper at both ends more than playmaker. Marie Johannes was able to be hyper selective offensively, albeit giving up one sloppy turnover. Valeriane Ayayi was able to mix up how she operated from leaning into strength or going pure off ball in her approach.
Even Dom Malonga’s finishing issues, which have plagued her in the knockout rounds, weren’t quite as costly as usual due to her net benefit at both ends. The result was France opening up the first double digit of the game after just 12 minutes.
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About the conventional wisdom
The normal thinking when trying to beat the USA in basketball, be it men’s or women’s, is that you need to build up a substantial lead. There will, inevitably, be a comeback and it’s pure survival mode from there.
Yet, if anything, it was France who looked far more capable of mounting a lengthy scoring run out of nowhere. There was an adequate blend of options while Gabby Williams was the only player on either side plausibly capable of the hero ball needed in such a situation.
Of course, several of you are roaring that Caitlin Clark could do that. Certainly, in the right situation she could. The way she had been used throughout the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup meant there was a greater chance of me being named Euroleague MVP than Clark being given the offensive reins for the USA.
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Gabby Williams gave France belief throughout the first half, mixing her own scoring with creation and defensive pressure as Les Bleus threatened to take control. (PIC: FIBA)
But we gotta talk about Gabby Williams
While France couldn’t quite break the game wide open in the first half, their leader and star was doing her part well. Three of her first four makes were from deep, while she leaned heavily into creator and help D far more than full takeover.
This is an awareness from Gabby Williams that is necessary at this level. She wanted the USA to focus on her, to make them over commit. When they dropped off, she could pick her shots while also enabling some significant misdirection on the defensive end.
The one concern really was the scoreboard. France were bringing so much energy, led by Williams, but the Americans were comfortably staying in touch. At least at the time. The chaotic approach of the French was visibly tiring the US players.
The necessary spark?
A Caitlin Clark three on the buzzer cut the gap to just two points at the break. Back to back scores from Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier gave the USA back the lead for the first time in an age. After her hardly being used offensively throughout the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, had Clark actually managed to ignite the US?
That’s a touch oversimplifying things. If anything, it was Stewie’s extra energy that got the US vet lineup going to start the second half. She was overflowing with aggression. A three from Kahleah Copper moved the USA into a multiple possession lead that looked unthinkable a short while previously.
Jackie Young capped the run at 13-2 across the two sides of the break before France finally stopped to have a think. A US run was to be expected. What everyone else was assuming was that this France side could brush it aside and bounce back big time.
Breanna Stewart set the tone for the USA’s decisive second-half surge, bringing the aggression and energy that finally broke France open. (PIC: FIBA)
Jackie gets open
There’s little doubt that Jackie Young must have been surprised at how much space she found in the third quarter. She rattled off 8 points on two uncontested threes and a barely defended inside score.
Credit to her for being able to generate that kind of space for herself. It was however unusually sloppy from France. Young’s contribution enabled the US to stunt any effort at a quick comeback from France.
For Les Bleus to get out of this, they were going to need to out grind the US. This was their rough patch and they weren’t weathering it all that well. Dom Malonga’s energy was the only positive from an utterly rotten third quarter. With 10 minutes to play, France needed a miracle.
Kara Lawson stuck with her veteran starting unit despite criticism, and was rewarded when it delivered the USA’s decisive third-quarter surge. (PIC: FIBA)
Lawson answers the critics
I was far from alone in slating the USA head coach’s decision to stick with her veterans so stubbornly. Yet, clearly, when the game was won and lost it was that veteran line up that did the business for Kara Lawson.
The third quarter wasn’t just an epic collapse from France. It was, easily, the best the US vets have played as a unit throughout the whole of this tournament. Caitlin Clark may have scored some key buckets but it was Kahleah Copper, Breanna Stewart, and, especially, Jackie Young that ended this game as a contest.
The title win means that she will surely lead this side into Los Angeles in two years time as favourites to retain Olympic gold. That’s a title they have held since 1996, having not lost a single Olympic game since 5 August 1992.
The bar is still clear for all to see. Nobody else has been able to reach it.
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