The Japan Times - US fight off spirited France to win 12th World Cup

Perennial red-hot favourites who had not lost a World Cup match since 2006, the Americans were below their best for much of the tournament.

The US 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.

American veteran Breanna Stewart once again led from the front, scoring a game-high 22 points while Jackie Young hit four crucial threes and finished with 18 points to extend the US's record to 36 wins in a row at the tournament.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark scored just one point in the semi-final but chipped in with some crucial buckets down the stretch, scoring 12 including two threes.

Playing in their first ever World Cup final, France were seeking revenge for their one-point loss in the gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics but lost their composure as the Americans turned on the afterburners in the second half.

France's Gabby Williams, the player of the match in their semi-final win over Germany, scored an impressive 16 points in the opening half but added just four more after that.

- Americans vulnerable -

The US, huge favourites who are used to dominating World Cups and the Olympics, came into Sunday's game looking vulnerable, having come close to defeats against unheralded Italy and again against Spain in the semi-finals.

No team had come within 20 points of France as they cruised into a maiden World Cup final and started strongly, ending the opening quarter with a three-point lead and running out to a 14-point lead midway through the second.

Forced to up the ante, the US fought back with Young hitting two quick-fire threes and Clark grabbing one of her own seconds before half-time, cutting France's lead to two points.

The US were far more composed after that, with Clark finding her range from the field.

The US took the steam out of the match in the fourth as they kept the French at bay.

Earlier on Sunday, Spain soothed the disappointment of their narrow semi-final loss to the US by claiming bronze with an 81-58 win over Germany.

The Spanish went close to a major boilover on Saturday, pushing the heavily favoured Americans all the way in their semi-final, levelling the scores at 58-58 three-quarters of the way through the match, before the US pulled away.

On Sunday, Spain were in control throughout against the spirited but limited hosts, who had never reached the final four of the tournament as a unified country.

Top-scorer Iyana Martin was one assist away from a double-double, with 20 points while grabbing a game-best nine dimes.

S.Fujimoto--JT