Caitlin Clark noticed one thing from Breanna Stewart in the course of the 2026 FIBA Girls’s World Cup that went past what confirmed up within the field rating. Stewart understood that Workforce USA would face moments when the video games obtained tight and uncomfortable, and she or he made certain the youthful gamers have been prepared for them.
That message turned much more essential within the gold medal sport. France jumped out to a 14-point lead earlier than Workforce USA settled down, rallied and finally gained 97-79 to assert its fifth straight World Cup title.
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Clark was enjoying in her first World Cup, so she had not skilled the strain that comes with attempting to maintain Workforce USA’s lengthy worldwide profitable streak alive. Stewart had been by these moments many occasions, and Clark mentioned that have made her a serious voice contained in the locker room.
Jul 22, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) within the second half towards the Connecticut Solar at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Photographs
“Stewie’s been an incredible chief by this complete course of for us,” Clark mentioned after the gold medal sport. “Even after we had that shut sport with Italy, she was anyone that was actually vocal within the locker room about, ‘Do not be flustered by this. That is regular for a World Cup. You are going to should type of get it out of the mud at some factors. It is not at all times going to be fairly.'”
Jul 18, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) within the second half towards the New York Liberty at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Photographs
The Italy sport gave Stewart an opportunity to make that time earlier than Workforce USA reached the largest stage. The People escaped that sport with a three-point win, and Clark mentioned Stewart later spoke to a number of the youthful gamers to verify they didn’t deal with the shut name as a warning signal.
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That was an essential a part of Stewart’s management. As an alternative of permitting a detailed sport to create doubt, she wished the group to know that worldwide basketball wouldn’t at all times be snug.
Breanna Stewart’s Message Grew to become Actuality Towards France
France supplied the precise take a look at Stewart had warned about. The French group opened the ultimate with a 21-2 run and constructed a 14-point benefit, placing Workforce USA in a scenario the place panic might have turned a nasty stretch right into a championship loss.
Jul 22, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball within the first half towards the Connecticut Solar at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Obligatory Credit score: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Photographs
As an alternative, the People chipped away on the deficit and entered halftime down solely two. They then exploded within the third quarter, outscoring France 30-12 and taking management of the sport for good.
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Stewart was on the middle of that response. She completed with 22 factors, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, incomes event MVP honors whereas serving to Workforce USA lengthen its World Cup profitable streak to 36 video games.
Clark contributed 12 factors and helped spark the comeback, however her feedback afterward centered on what Stewart had achieved earlier than the largest second arrived. Stewart had already informed the youthful gamers that tough stretches have been coming.
France merely gave Workforce USA the largest instance of that lesson. The sport obtained ugly. The People didn’t. That’s precisely what Stewart had been making ready them for.
