Team USA wins fifth straight FIBA World Cup title

Team USA secured its fifth consecutive FIBA Women's World Cup title on Sunday, defeating France 97-79 in the final in Berlin. The victory extended the American team's World Cup winning streak to 36 games, a run that dates back to a loss to Russia in 2006. The Americans overcame a significant early deficit, trailing 31-17 in the second quarter before mounting a comeback. A buzzer-beating three-pointer from Caitlin Clark just before halftime cut the French lead to 45-43. Team USA then seized control in the third quarter, opening with an 11-2 run to take a 54-47 lead and never looking back. Breanna Stewart was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and led all scorers with 22 points in the final. Jackie Young also contributed significantly, combining with Stewart for 40 points. For France, Dominique Malonga scored 21 points and Gabby Williams added 20 in a losing effort. Clark, the Indiana Fever star, played a bench role throughout the tournament. In the final, she scored 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 13 minutes of action, though she also committed four turnovers. Her performance sparked debate among fans and analysts about her usage and role on the team.