USA defeat France to win 12th FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup
Breanna Stewart leads comeback win for the record champions despite France's early lead in the Berlin final.
The United States have won the Women’s Basketball World Cup for a record-extending 12th time, defeating a spirited France 97-79 in the final in Berlin.
Perennial red-hot favourites, having not lost a World Cup match since 2006, the Americans were below their best for much of the tournament before walking away with the trophy on Sunday.
USA trailed by two points at half-time to an energetic France side, but turned it on when it mattered, outscoring the Europeans 30-12 in the third quarter.
France’s Gabby Williams, the player of the match in their semifinal win over Germany, scored an impressive 16 points in the opening half, but added just four more after that.