‘Greatest winner’ Stewart guides U. S. to fifth straight World Cup title

'Greatest winner' Stewart guides U. S. to fifth straight World Cup title. Team USA largely credited Breanna Stewart for helping guide them to the program's fifth straight World Cup title after a win over France in the final.

What happened

Skip to main content Skip to navigation Golden again: How Team USA rallied to beat France and win the World CupNew York Liberty2dMichael Voepel and Alexa Philippou'Greatest winner' Stewart guides U. Skip to main content Skip to navigation 'Greatest winner' Stewart guides U. S. to fifth straight World Cup title2dAlexa PhilippouKerr takes Ultimate title to wrap record season2dMas, 3-time runner-up, finally wins Spanish Vuelta2dSpain beats Germany to win bronze at women's FIBA World Cup2dJefferson-Wooden clocks 21.

S. to fifth straight World Cup title2dAlexa PhilippouSpain beats Germany to win bronze at women's FIBA World Cup2dU. New York Liberty7dAlexa Philippou and Michael VoepelWNBA offseason 2026: Guides for every eliminated teamPortland Fire8dMichael Voepel, +3 MoreWNBA playoff schedule: League releases dates for 2026 postseasonAtlanta Dream6dESPNplayStewart after USA's FIBA World Cup title: 'Our goal is always gold' (0:58)Michael VoepelCloseMichael VoepelESPN Senior WriterMichael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women's college basketball and other college sports.

S. cruises past Czechia to close out pool play8dOlympic champ Lyles won't run in lucrative event8dTempo's Allemand breaks World Cup assist recordToronto Tempo8dplayStewart after USA's FIBA World Cup title: 'Our goal is always gold' (0:58)Alexa PhilippouSep 13, 2026, 03:58 PM ETMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBERLIN — For the first time in years, maybe decades, Team USA looked vulnerable entering and even during the 2026 women's basketball World Cup. "Stewart further solidified her argument as arguably the winningest player in the sport's history, boasting four NCAA championships, three WNBA titles, three Olympic gold medals and now four World Cup golds, tying Sue Bird for the most of all time.

The wider picture

Team USA beat France 97-79 in Berlin to win its fifth consecutive World Cup title and 12th overall. The team was left with just three players — Stewart, Chelsea Gray and Kahleah Copper — who'd played in a World Cup before, a tournament many say is harder to win than the Olympics. "She will play any position for us to win, and that quality is why she's the greatest winner that we've had, probably. France in '24 Olympic rematch3dAlexa PhilippouJefferson-Wooden, Bednarek capture Ultimate Championship wins3dWilliams leads France past host Germany to reach World Cup finalGolden State Valkyries3dIngebrigtsen drops out of 1,500m, denying showdown with rivals3dTeam USA takes Lawson's message to heart entering World Cup semis4dAlexa PhilippouStorm's Magbegor tears ACL at FIBA World CupSeattle Storm5dAlexa PhilippouGrospiron quits as 2030 French Alps Olympics chief amid setbacks5dRussian figure skater Valieva again refused neutral status5dChemistry building for U.

Hungary in FIBA World Cup quarters6dAlexa PhilippouFormenton joins Oilers, latest acquitted Hockey Canada player back in NHLEdmonton Oilers6dNigeria name Eguavoen as WNT coach for Olympic qualifiers6dColin UdohGermany rolls into Women's World Cup quarterfinals; U. But as team captain Breanna Stewart sat in the news conference following Saturday's semifinal, previewing the final showdown against France, she exuded a quiet confidence. "About 24 hours later, Stewart sat back in that very spot with an American flag draped around her and a gold medal around her neck, fresh off leading USA to a 97-79 victory over France.

Her 22-point, 10-rebound performance in the final helped her earn World Cup MVP honors.

What has been reported

"I pride myself on being consistent, and that's showing up when it's the big moments and the small moments and all the moments in between," Stewart said. "Stewart has been a stalwart with USA Basketball for over a decade and in recent years has taken the reins alongside Wilson as pillars of this era of Team USA. Stewart ultimately led Team USA in scoring (12. In the weight room after the team barely beat Italy in its second game — in what would have been one of the most shocking results the sport had seen in years — Stewart noticed several younger players had a look of "what just happened" on their faces.

She shared with them how heading into the 2014 World Cup, her first, USA lost to France in an exhibition but still went on to win the tournament. It was the first double-digit deficit Team USA faced in a World Cup game since the 2006 semifinal, the program's last loss in the event. "Our group, our starters especially, when we got down big, we didn't crumble under pressure," Stewart said about the team's ability to cut the deficit to two going into halftime and then respond with a 30-12 third quarter.

"Stewart didn't do it all alone — fellow veterans Chelsea Gray, Young, Copper and Napheesa Collier also came up big against France — but her peers recognize how special Stewart is.

What happens next

I think sometimes you get used to seeing excellence all the time and you get complacent," said Gray, who has faced off against Stewart many times competing for WNBA championships. "The keys to USA Basketball will eventually be handed over to the likes of Bueckers, Clark, Angel Reese and Aliyah Boston, all of whom have now learned from and won with Stewart. But as far as she's concerned, Stewart doesn't want to be done with USA Basketball — and winning on the biggest of stages — anytime soon.

Asked on the television broadcast if she can run it back with this group at the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, Stewart responded, "Oh yeah, see you in L. France in '24 Olympic rematch3dAlexa PhilippouWilliams leads France past host Germany to reach World Cup finalGolden State Valkyries3dTeam USA takes Lawson's message to heart entering World Cup semis4dAlexa Philippou'Gonna let them do them': Cunningham ignoring Kanter Freedom, WhiteIndiana Fever4dKatie BarnesWho are the potential candidates to be the next WNBA commissioner?

Yet when the Americans faced a double-digit deficit in the first half of the FIBA Women's World Cup final Sunday, they couldn't just rely on history. S. players competing in their first major 5-on-5 international competition, including Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, the past four WNBA Rookie of the Year award winners.

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across espn.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.