Group USA has performed it once more. After wanting shaky at occasions in Berlin, the Individuals used a dominant second half to drag away from France for a 97-79 win in Sunday’s closing on the 2026 Girls’s World Cup. Group USA has now gained 5 consecutive World Cup titles and a file 12 general. 

France needed to accept the silver medal — their best-ever end on the World Cup — whereas Spain took house the bronze after crushing the hosts Germany within the third-place recreation early on Sunday. 

Earlier than we flip our consideration again to the WNBA, which is able to resume its 2026 season on Sept. 17, let’s check out a few of the winners and losers from the World Cup. 

Winner: Group USA

This one is clear, however that does not make it any much less true. 

Group USA misplaced A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum days earlier than the World Cup began, had seven gamers making their World Cup debut on the roster and handled actual stress in opposition to Italy, Spain and France (within the first half). And the Individuals nonetheless walked away undefeated with a fifth consecutive World Cup title. 

This was the fifth World Cup title in a row for Group USA, which has tied the Soviet Union for probably the most consecutive golds, and the Individuals’ twelfth title general. 

Most World Cup titles

This was the thirty sixth consecutive victory on the World Cup for Group USA, which has not misplaced on the occasion for the reason that semifinals in 2006. In actual fact, between the World Cup and the Olympics, the Individuals have gained 72 consecutive video games at main worldwide tournaments. The 2006 World Cup is the final time Group USA has not gained gold on the World Cup or Olympics — a 20-year run of complete dominance. 

Loser: The remainder of the world

Listed here are a couple of info about Group USA and this World Cup:

• Group USA misplaced four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, one of the best participant on this planet, and Kelsey Plum days earlier than the event began
• The Individuals additionally had seven gamers — Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Caitlin Clark, Rhyne Howard, Kiki Iriafen and Angel Reese — making their World Cup debuts 
• The event occurred proper on the finish of a grueling WNBA season, which meant Group USA was unable to carry a pre-tournament coaching camp or play any warm-up video games

If nobody may beat Group USA at this event, when will it occur? 

The 2028 Olympics are going to be on American soil, and transferring ahead, the World Cup will happen in November and December, which advantages American gamers, fewer and fewer of whom play abroad after the WNBA season ends. By the 2032 Olympics and 2034 World Cup, the likes of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, Olivia Miles and JuJu Watkins can be of their primes with loads of worldwide expertise. 

The remainder of the world has made vital strides over the previous couple of years, and France and Spain, specifically, will solely proceed to get higher. However given Wilson’s last-minute departure and the dearth of expertise for Group USA, this felt like one other nation’s greatest likelihood to knock off the Individuals for some time. 

Winner: Breanna Stewart

Search for the definition of a winner within the dictionary, and you will find an image of Breanna Stewart. 

Stewart, who made her Group USA debut on the 2014 World Cup when she was nonetheless at UConn, has by no means misplaced a recreation within the crimson, white and blue. She’s now 20-0 on the Olympics and 26-0 on the World Cup, with three Olympic golds and 4 World Cup golds. Her 4 World Cup golds are tied with Sue Hen for probably the most ever by an American — males or girls. 

Stewart put up 22 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists Sunday on 7 of 10 capturing, and was named MVP of the event after averaging 12.8 factors, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.7 steals on 55.3% capturing. She is the primary participant ever to win a number of World Cup MVP awards. (She additionally earned the glory in 2018.) 

“The factor that I respect about her probably the most is her willingness to do something to assist the group. It is so uncommon in a participant of her caliber,” Group USA coach Kara Lawson stated. “She’s going to play any place — did you see her enjoying level guard? She’s going to play any place for us to win. That high quality is why she’s the best winner that we have had in all probability. 4 World Cups, that is tied for probably the most ever. You rattle off the opposite issues on the resume. She is USA Basketball… We’re actually fortunate to be part of her period.”

Loser: Belgium

Final summer season, Belgium pulled off a outstanding comeback within the closing of EuroBasket Girls 2025 to defeat Spain and win gold on the competitors for the second time in a row. The Black Cats entered Berlin as one of many greatest threats to knock off Group USA, and a transparent medal favourite. 

However after an ideal 3-0 begin within the group stage, Belgium was surprised within the quarterfinals by Germany. An upset loss is one factor, however the Germans fully dominated that recreation. They by no means trailed after the primary quarter and led by double digits for almost all the second half. 

As soon as once more, Belgium did not stroll away with a medal at a serious worldwide event. Listed here are their most up-to-date outcomes on the World Cup and Olympics:

Star level guard Julie Allemand didn’t mince phrases after the defeat to Germany. “It has been nice for us the previous few years, and we in all probability obtained fortunate at occasions,” Allemand stated. “However right now I feel it is time to ask the precise questions and to determine what to do sooner or later.”

Winner: Iyana Martín

After the enlargement Portland Fireplace chosen 20-year-old Spanish guard Iyana Martín with the No. 7 general choose within the 2026 WNBA Draft, Fireplace basic supervisor Vanja Černivec requested for endurance from the group’s followers. Martín, who was a draft-and-stash choose and didn’t play within the WNBA this season, was a “generational expertise,” Černivec stated. 

“She will push the tempo,” Černivec continued. “She’s probably the greatest at studying the pick-and-roll and may break down a protection and get to the ring. We thought she was simply an incredible match for what our coaches needed to do.” 

In Berlin, Martín confirmed why Černivec and the Fireplace had been so excited so as to add her to their roster and look at her as an integral a part of their future. 

In opposition to Group USA within the semifinals, Martín was probably the greatest gamers on the ground and put up 17 factors, three rebounds, three assists and three steals on 5 of 8 capturing. For the event, she completed with averages of 17.5 factors, 3.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and a couple of.2 steals on 54.5/45.5/90 capturing splits. She led Spain in scoring, assists and steals, and was fourth in scoring amongst all gamers. 

For her efforts, which included a 22-point, nine-assist outing in Spain’s win over Germany to say a bronze medal, Martín was named the World Cup Rising Star and earned a spot on the World Cup All-Star 5. 

No particular person participant raised their inventory extra in Berlin than Martín. 

Loser: Ezi Magbegor

Within the first quarter of Australia’s quarterfinal qualifier in opposition to Italy, Ezi Magbegor drove to the basket. As she took a bump from Lorela Cubaj, her proper knee buckled and she or he collapsed to the bottom. An MRI later revealed that Magbegor had torn her ACL and would miss the rest of the event and the WNBA season. 

Magbegor will doubtless miss the start of the 2027 WNBA season as effectively, although the Seattle Storm haven’t introduced an official restoration timeline. 

Ezi Magbegor tears ACL at World Cup, is out for the rest of WNBA season: What it means for the Storm

Jack Maloney

The torn ACL ended a irritating 12 months for Magbegor, who handled quite a lot of accidents. She harm her foot whereas enjoying for Australia within the World Cup Qualifying Match in Istanbul in March, and missed the primary seven weeks of the WNBA season. Shortly after her debut, Magbegor broke a bone in her face and was sidelined for an additional three weeks. 

In between all the accidents, Magbegor was by no means capable of finding a rhythm. In 14 video games, she averaged 6.9 factors, 4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks on 39.8% capturing — the worst marks since her second season within the league. Because of her injury-shortened marketing campaign, Magbegor’s streak of 4 consecutive All-Defensive Group appearances will come to an finish. 

Winner: Trinity San Antonio

Most WNBA followers are doubtless unfamiliar with Trinity San Antonio, however that might not be the case for for much longer after her breakout efficiency in Berlin. 

San Antonio, who performed her school basketball at Cal Baptist and Grand Canyon, was the 2025 WAC Participant of the Yr, however went undrafted within the 2025 WNBA Draft. She has since plied her commerce in France and for the Puerto Rican nationwide group, which she led to a 3rd consecutive World Cup look. 

Puerto Rico was knocked out within the quarterfinal qualification stage by China in a heartbreaking defeat, however not for an absence of effort from San Antonio. In probably the greatest particular person efforts by any participant within the event, San Antonio completed with 24 factors, 9 rebounds, seven assists and 5 steals. 

For the event, she averaged 15.5 factors on 56.8% capturing, 3.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and a outstanding 5 steals, which led all gamers. Regardless of her efforts, San Antonio was snubbed from the World Cup Second Group, largely because of Puerto Rico’s early exit. She actually should have made an impression on the quite a few WNBA personnel in attendance, nevertheless. 

San Antonio has made a giant transfer to affix French group Basket Landes, which is able to compete in EuroLeague Girls this winter. If she will again up her play in Berlin, she has an actual likelihood to earn a shot within the WNBA subsequent season. Her quickness and perimeter protection are traits that can solely turn out to be extra invaluable because the WNBA turns into an increasing number of a guards’ league.