People are higher after World Cup, and that is very best consequence

Published On: September 14, 2026

Up to date Sept. 13, 2026, 10:09 p.m. ET

This was the very best consequence for USA ladies’s basketball.

One other title on the FIBA World Cup, in fact, their record-tying fifth in a row. Add of their eight consecutive Olympic gold medals, and there may be little query the People are one of many biggest dynasties. Of any sport, from any period.

All dynasties ultimately finish, nonetheless, and the remainder of the world is gaining on the People. Which is why Staff USA’s efficiency at this World Cup, the ultimate particularly, was so vital.

Don’t be fooled by the ultimate rating, a 97-79 victory over France on Sunday, Sept. 13, in Berlin, Germany. Les Bleues pushed the People. Laborious. Even more durable than they pushed the People on the Paris Olympics. At one level within the second quarter, France had a 14-point lead, Les Bleues have been draining 3s as in the event that they have been taking part in Pop-a-Shot and Gabby Williams was dominating.

Not often had the People seemed this beatable, even in that Italy recreation earlier within the match.

However they figured it out. They began getting defensive stops, making jumpers and exerting their will inside. They closed the half on a 26-14 run that pulled them inside two, then got here out with a vengeance within the third.

Staff USA pulls away in third quarter

The U.S. shut Williams down, took away the three and usually made life depressing for France on each ends of the court docket. By the point the third quarter was over, the People had a 16-point lead and any risk to their reign was a distant reminiscence.

“Credit score to France, they seem to be a actually robust group and so they proceed to play us robust every time we see them. However I feel my message to the group earlier than the sport is we’re the usual,” Staff USA captain Breanna Stewart, who was named the match MVP, stated.

“USA Basketball has continued to indicate up and go for gold, and to have carried out that nonetheless many occasions consecutively is an insane stat. And we need to guarantee that we proceed to construct on that customary and everyone else is aware of it. … We let the remainder of the world know that our objective is all the time gold.”

Sure, it was the vets who acquired the People again into the sport. Stewart completed with 22 factors — on 7-of-10 taking pictures — 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Jackie Younger, who had double figures in each match recreation, had 18 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists. Chelsea Grey had 12 factors, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and a steal.

Younger People confirmed world what they have

However Staff USA coach Kara Lawson already knew what she was going to get from them. Stewart, Younger and Grey, in addition to Napheesa Collier and Kahleah Copper, know what it takes to win in a global match as a result of they’ve carried out it.

The kids, the seven gamers representing Staff USA at a serious worldwide match for the primary time, didn’t. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Rhyne Howard, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have been all examined on the worldwide stage.

“This wasn’t your typical USA Basketball group,” Lawson acknowledged. “I feel it simply reveals the energy of our federation and actually the energy of our gamers. Within the largest moments, they proceed to play their greatest. And that’s such an unbelievable high quality. It is a high quality that not lots of people have. And we’re simply fortunate in the US that we now have that in spades.”

International recreation is enhancing

The remainder of the world goes to proceed to problem the U.S. ladies. France was already salty about that near-miss in Paris, and this may solely gasoline Les Bleues additional.

“We’re exhibiting little by little France is a basketball nation,” Williams stated. “That was my objective once I joined this group, to alter the tradition. Clearly we now have greater expectations, however we’ll get there.”

Add to that Italy and Spain, each of whom examined the People mightily. Germany, too, who reached the semifinals regardless of not having Satou Sabally. Clark, Reese, Bueckers, even Boston and Howard — all of them now know precisely what they’ll be dealing with in Los Angeles.

And so they’ll know they will deal with it. As a result of they did right here.

Clark made a monster 3 simply earlier than the break to tug the U.S. with two, then had certainly one of her greatest stretches of your entire match within the second half. Reese had at the very least one difference-making defensive play in each recreation whereas France goes to be trying over its shoulder for Howard till Los Angeles. Boston was each stable and constant.

Bueckers didn’t play a lot within the remaining, however she’s seen it. Felt it. Is aware of what it’s wish to be on the again foot and discover a approach to flip the sport round.

These are the type of experiences that may preserve the U.S. ladies on the prime of the sport, at the same time as the remainder of the world comes ever nearer.

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