USA 97, France 79. Stewart takes the MVP.

The United States won the September 13 Women's World Cup final 97–79, but the final margin hides the game's most important turn. France led at halftime in Berlin. A dominant American third quarter changed the contest before Breanna Stewart and her teammates completed a fifth consecutive title and the country's 12th overall.

The quarter that changed the final

FIBA's quarter-by-quarter record shows France leading 20–17 after the first and 45–43 at halftime. The United States then won the third quarter 30–12, taking a 73–57 lead into the fourth. An 18-point advantage in one quarter turned a two-point deficit into a 16-point cushion.

That is the passage to revisit in the official highlights. Reading only the final score suggests a comfortable evening; following the quarter scores reveals a game France was leading halfway through. The U.S. won the last quarter 24–22, preserving the separation it had created rather than needing another dramatic swing.

Stewart leads, Young delivers

Stewart finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Jackie Young added 18 points, six rebounds and five assists, according to FIBA's championship report. Stewart also became the first two-time winner of the tournament's MVP award.

The two stat lines offer different ways to understand the win: Stewart paired scoring with a double-digit rebounding total, while Young contributed across scoring, rebounding and playmaking. Together they account for 40 of the United States' 97 points, though a box score alone cannot explain every defensive adjustment or possession.

A wider view of the podium

France's silver was its best finish and came in its first final. Spain beat Germany 81–58 for bronze. The medal table therefore captures more than American continuity: it also records a new high for France. The official game center below includes the quarter scores and extended highlights for readers who want to follow how the championship was decided.