Five storylines to watch in the FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medal game
USA TODAY Studio IX’s Callie Fin explains all of the interesting storylines that will unfold when Team USA faces France in the gold medal game of the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Breanna Stewart led Team USA to its fifth consecutive gold medal in the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
The New York Liberty star powered Team USA to glory with 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in the Americans’ 97-79 victory over France on Sunday, Sept. 13 in Berlin, Germany.
Stewart was named MVP of the World Cup for the second time, also taking home the trophy in 2018. She now owns four World Cup gold medals, joining Sue Bird as the only other Team USA player to win four. Stewart averaged 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 55.3% from the floor during the World Cup.
“Four World Cups? That’s tied for the most ever,” Team USA coach Kara Lawson said. “She is USA Basketball. When you think of the last 15 years, it’s Stewie. We’re just really lucky to be a part of her era.”
Asked how she led this group, which featured seven players making Team USA debut in a major tournament, Stewart said: “Just being honest. Really being genuine and letting them know how this tournament is, how Europe is, how these teams are always continuing to be better.
“But we’re the standard. We always have been. We are continuing to do that, especially with this gold medal. And not forgetting that. It’s always about us.”
Stewart headlined the FIBA All-Tournament team, where she was joined by Team USA teammate Jackie Young. The Las Vegas Aces guard had 18 points, six rebounds and five assists on Sunday and averaged 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the World Cup.
Along with Stewart and Young, the All-Tournament team featured Spain’s Iyana Martin, Germany’s Leonie Fiebich and France’s Gabby Williams.
The 20-year-old Martin, who was drafted by the Portland Fire, led Spain to the bronze medal by averaging 17.5 points per game, which was the fourth-best in the tournament. Martin also led Spain in assists (4.2) and steals (2.2) per game.
Fiebich, who plays with Stewart for the Liberty, averaged 9.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game as Germany finished fourth. Williams, a star for the Golden State Valkyries, was third in scoring among all players with 18.7 points per game for runner-up France.
The MVP honor is the latest on a wildly decorated resume for Stewart. In addition to her pair of World Cup MVPs, she’s been WNBA MVP twice, WNBA Finals MVP twice, the Olympics MVP in 2021 and at UConn was the Most Outstanding Player at the Final Four in each of her four seasons of college ball.
Stewart — who owns four World Cup titles, three Olympic gold medals, two WNBA championships and four NCAA championships — has never lost a game played in a World Cup, Olympics or NCAA Tournament.
“I pride myself on being consistently great,” Stewart said. “That’s showing up when it’s the big moments, the small moments and all the moments in between. It’s an unrealistic confidence I have in myself.”