Captain Breanna Stewart had a message for her U.S. girls’s basketball teammates earlier than the FIBA World Cup remaining.
“We’re the usual,” she mentioned.
Stewart led the way in which in reinforcing that because the Individuals received a fifth consecutive World Cup by beating France 97-79, overcoming an early 14-point deficit.
France, which misplaced the Paris Olympic remaining to the U.S. by one level, led 31-17 early within the second quarter in Berlin.
Then the U.S. seized management, together with a 30-12 third quarter, within the largest recreation it should play between now and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, when it should search a staff sport record-extending ninth consecutive gold.
“These (different) groups are all the time persevering with to be higher, however we’re the usual,” Stewart, the match MVP, mentioned on TNT after posting 22 factors with 10 rebounds. “We all the time have been.”
FIBA WORLD CUP: Field Rating | Schedule, Outcomes | USA Roster Breakdown
Breanna Stewart, Jackie Younger lead U.S. previous France
The Individuals have received 36 consecutive World Cup video games courting to 2006 and 72 in a row between World Cup and Olympic play.
U.S. head coach Kara Lawson, who succeeded Cheryl Reeve after the Paris Video games, leaned on her veteran beginning lineup for Sunday’s comeback.
Stewart, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, turned the primary American to have a 20-10 recreation in a FIBA World Cup remaining since Lisa Leslie in 1998.
“It begins with Stewie, her management,” Lawson mentioned. “Not simply tonight. Not simply immediately. All through the entire match. Simply serving to to information the youthful gamers, speak to them, simply present them what it seems prefer to win.”
Jackie Younger, an Olympic gold medalist in 5×5 and 3×3, added 18 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists.
Kahleah Copper added 15, whereas start line guard Chelsea Grey had 12 factors and 5 assists.
Caitlin Clark, in her first senior world championship, led the U.S. bench with 12 factors. She averaged a team-leading 5.3 assists for the match. Lawson lauded the younger reserves’ play over the six video games.
“Within the largest of moments, the performs that Caitlin made, the performs that Rhyne Howard made, the performs that Angel Reese made,” she mentioned. “Aliyah Boston, how nice was she final night time (within the semifinals) and tonight? So now you’ve got these experiences, and now you’ve got the boldness if you get in a match like this once more to proceed to assist us win.”
Lawson predicted earlier than the match that it might be harder than any previous World Cup to win given the elevated worldwide depth.
U.S. examined en path to FIBA World Cup title
The U.S. handed all of its checks.
First in a three-point win over Italy in group play, its closest World Cup victory since its final defeat within the 2006 semifinals.
The U.S. and Spain have been tied after three quarters in Saturday’s semifinals earlier than the Individuals pulled away, 76-66.
Then it was France, a staff with the second-most WNBA gamers on this match (eight), together with Gabby Williams, an All-Star for the Golden State Valkyries. Williams scored 16 first-half factors Sunday, then was held to 1-of-7 capturing within the second half.
“There was plenty of noise on the market,” Grey mentioned on TNT. “I’m fairly positive we quieted that a bit bit.”
The Individuals received their six video games by a median of 26 factors, doing so with out the world’s finest participant.
A’ja Wilson, the reigning Olympic, World Cup, WNBA and WNBA Finals MVP, withdrew within the week main as much as the beginning of the match for well being causes.
Lawson famous that seven of the 12 U.S. gamers have been of their first world championship in 5×5.
“This wasn’t your typical USA Basketball staff,” she mentioned. “I believe it simply reveals the energy of our federation and, actually, the energy of our gamers.”
