Team USA are world champions again. But for a moment in Berlin, it genuinely looked like France might be the team to finally end their extraordinary World Cup run of four consecutive titles. The Americans found themselves trailing by 14 points in the second quarter, with France looking completely in control of the championship game and a historic upset appearing very much within reach.

But the Americans had no intention of letting the streak end in Berlin. With a combination of raw talent and veteran poise, they turned the game around in spectacular fashion, dominating the third quarter and eventually pulling away for a 97-79 victory, securing a fifth consecutive World Cup gold.

Winning the title alone was cause for enormous celebration. But the manner in which it happened, staging a remarkable comeback against a France team that had been so dominant in the first half, left players, coaches, and supporters celebrating long after the final buzzer had sounded. Here is a look at how the team reacted to this latest piece of history.

Caitlin Clark Reflects on the Special Feeling of Winning World Cup Gold

“WORLD CUP GOLD MEDALIST!!!!!!!!!!!! 🇺🇸🥇” That was Caitlin Clark’s post on X after the final buzzer. And it sums up the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment that comes with winning a World Cup for your country. In her postgame interview, Clark made clear that this is a moment she will not be forgetting anytime soon.

“It’s pretty special,” Clark said. “I think anytime you wear a USA jersey and you have a medal around your neck, I think when you look up, and you look at our flag and hear the national anthem play, that moment never gets old and gives you chills. Just really thankful for USA Basketball and to get to share the court with these girls. Definitely some memories I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Clark also reflected on the difficult start Team USA endured, finding themselves in an 11-point hole before gradually working their way back into the game and taking complete control in the second half. 

“We dug ourselves an 11-point hole, but we climbed out of it. We climbed out of it. And I felt like we were never rattled by anything that they did,” she said.

And she played a meaningful role in that climb. Clark finished the game with 12 points and three assists, but perhaps her most impactful single contribution was the buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the second quarter that gave Team USA the momentum shift they needed heading into halftime. 

And so, it is no longer just Caitlin Clark, three-season WNBA sensation. It is World Champion Caitlin Clark.

Angel Reese Makes Good on Her Promise With First Senior International Gold

Unlike the five veterans of Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, and Chelsea Gray, this World Cup gold was the first senior international title for Angel Reese and several of her younger teammates. But as Angel Reese shared on X after the win, this was only the beginning.

“First of many! 🥇🙏🏽,” she wrote.

The declaration was entirely in keeping with the confidence she had shown before the final. “I came here for something, and I’m not leaving without it, OK?” Reese had said ahead of the championship game. And true to her word, she did not leave without it. The first gold medal has been claimed. The hunger for more is already on the record.

Breanna Stewart Earns World Cup MVP With Commanding Championship Performance

“I’ve been in these games.” Those were Breanna Stewart’s words the day before the final against France. And who better to say them than the player who has now played in four World Cup finals and won them all unbeaten. That experience counted for everything on Sunday, as she delivered a 22-point, 10-rebound masterclass to claim the World Cup MVP award.

Speaking in the postgame press conference, Stewart made clear that the confidence she expressed before the game was genuine, and that for this group, the journey through the group stage and knockout rounds had always been building toward one specific destination. 

“I think that we were ready,” she said. “This was a game that we obviously wanted to get to from the start of this tournament. But we didn’t want to disrespect our opponents, thinking ahead. Knowing that we got here, we got to this point, and that it was going to be France. We were ready for that challenge. We were locked in this morning.”

And it ended up being another historic night not just for Team USA but for Stewart personally. That fourth World Cup gold ties her with WNBA legend Sue Bird for the most FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medals in basketball history. Her MVP award also made her the first player in FIBA history to win two Women’s World Cup MVP honours, having previously claimed the award in 2018.

Simply put, it was a night of history for Breanna Stewart. One she worked for, earned, and completely deserved.

Chelsea Gray Fires Back at France’s Pre-Final Noise After Team USA’s Gold-Medal Triumph

There was plenty of noise about France’s defense and physicality before the final, with the message almost sounding like a warning for Team USA to be very scared of what was coming. That energy even seemed to carry over into the arena, as France looked very much in control through the first two quarters. 

But alas, Team USA eventually turned the game around and pulled away for a convincing victory. And after winning the gold, Chelsea Gray was not about to let all that pregame noise slide, hitting back at France’s confidence.

“There was a lot of noise out there,” Gray said on TNT. “I’m pretty sure we quieted that a little bit.”

It is now Gray’s second World Cup gold medal, as she also won the title in the last edition in 2022. Regardless, the excitement of winning such a major title never fades, as she made clear in that postgame interview.

“I love bringing home that gold medal. Never take it for granted, man. It’s with a new group of experienced winners. We did it by committee. Everybody stepped up,” Gray said.

As she also pointed out, this time around she had to step into her role as a veteran, and she delivered when Team USA needed her. Gray finished the final with 12 points, four rebounds, five assists, and a steal. It was another strong showing from the veteran.

Paige Bueckers Savors World Cup Gold on Senior Team USA Debut

Getting the opportunity to represent Team USA was already a special moment for Paige Bueckers. The fact that she got to do so while winning a World Cup gold medal on her senior tournament debut only added to the significance of the experience.

Speaking in a postgame press conference, Bueckers reflected on what it meant to be part of the tournament and share the experience with her teammates and coaching staff.

“Very special, just to be a part of this, to be a part of a tournament that is just a great level of competition, teams playing for their country, representing something so much bigger than themselves, and to do with such an amazing group of women, and amazing coaching staff, and to represent the United States.”

While she might not have been a central part of the performance in this final, only coming in for about three minutes, Bueckers still had some memorable moments throughout the tournament. Notably, her World Cup began with 14 points and four assists against China in the first game of the group stage, and she eventually finished with an average of 7.3 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game. 

But regardless of her individual numbers, the greatest honor for her was getting to represent Team USA and getting that gold medal around her neck while at it.

Aliyah Boston Celebrates Gold-Medal 

For Aliyah Boston, the feeling after Team USA secured another World Cup title was one of gratitude and pride, as she took to X to celebrate the achievement.

“Always blessed 🥇🥇. Feels great to bring home the gold!!!” wrote Aliyah Boston on X.

While she was not among the core five starters in that final game, Boston still contributed during the 16 minutes she played. She finished with seven points, one rebound and one assist, while also adding a block as Team USA completed its comeback against France.

Team USA’s victory marked the second time in two years that the Americans had gotten the better of France in a gold-medal game, having also defeated them in the 2024 Paris Olympics final. While France came into the matchup with a thirst for revenge, the Americans eventually pulled away for the 97-79 victory. The win capped off the USA’s 12th World Cup title, the most by any team in the tournament’s history.