A record-setting final in Berlin
The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup final delivered more than a championship showdown between the United States and France. The game featured a dramatic shift in momentum, standout performances and a major U.S. television audience.
But the final was only part of a bigger story, as the tournament set notable records both on the court and across its broadcasts. Here’s a closer look at the moments, numbers and milestones that made this World Cup one to remember.
The United States won 97-79
Team USA defeated France 97-79 in the championship game. The result gave the United States its 12th FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup title and fifth consecutive championship.
France finished second after reaching the World Cup final for the first time. The French team entered the title game after defeating host Germany 86-64 in the semifinals.
The game featured a major comeback
France opened the final strongly and built a 14-point lead during the first half. The United States reduced the deficit before halftime and entered the break only two points behind.
The Americans then moved ahead during the third quarter and controlled the final period. The comeback secured the championship while extending the United States’ winning streak in the competition.
Breanna Stewart led the scoring
Breanna Stewart scored 22 points and collected 10 rebounds for the United States. Her performance earned her the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup TISSOT Most Valuable Player award.
Stewart became the first player to receive the tournament’s MVP honor twice. She had previously won the award during the 2018 Women’s World Cup, when the United States also captured the championship.
Jackie Young added 18 points
Jackie Young scored 18 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and recorded 5 assists in the championship game. Her performance came as the United States recovered from France’s early advantage and secured another gold medal.
Young was also selected to the tournament’s All-Star Five. She joined Stewart, France’s Gabby Williams, Spain’s Iyana Martin and Germany’s Leonie Fiebich.
France secured its highest finish
France’s silver medal marked its highest-ever finish at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. The team had previously earned bronze at the inaugural tournament in 1953, then returned to the podium 73 years later.
Gabby Williams led France during the tournament and earned a place on the All-Star Five. France’s first final appearance resulted in the country’s first World Cup silver medal.
The final was played in Berlin
The championship final took place at the Berlin Arena on Sunday, September 13. FIBA reported that 12,223 fans attended the final in Berlin, Germany.
The 2026 event was staged in Berlin from September 4 through September 13. The tournament finished with the United States first, France second, Spain third and Germany fourth.
The tournament set an attendance record
The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup attracted 236,015 fans across games in Berlin. FIBA said that total surpassed the previous tournament attendance record of 145,519, set in Sydney in 2022.
The competition also recorded an average attendance of 6,556 per game. The figures established new attendance records for the Women’s World Cup.
The final ranked third historically
The 1.2 million average audience made the U.S.-France final the third-most-watched Women’s World Cup game on record. The two games above it were also played during the 2026 tournament.
The final’s audience became part of a record-setting tournament for TNT Sports. Five games from the 2026 competition ranked among the five largest U.S. television audiences in the event’s history.
Interesting fact: Julie Allemand became the all-time assists leader in FIBA Women’s World Cup history during the 2026 tournament.
USA-Italy drew the tournament high
The United States’ group-stage game against Italy averaged 1.3 million viewers and peaked at 1.7 million. TNT Sports reported that it became the most-watched FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup game in U.S. television history.
USA-Czechia averaged 1.2 million viewers and peaked at 1.4 million. The U.S.-France final matched Czechia’s average audience but recorded a higher peak.
Interesting fact: The 2026 tournament produced the five largest TV audiences in FIBA Women’s World Cup history, according to Sports Media Watch.
The final faced other major events
The championship game aired during the opening weekend of the NFL season in the United States. It also took place on the same Sunday as the U.S. Open men’s singles final.
TNT Sports reported a 1.2 million average audience for the final. The broadcast reached a peak of 1.5 million viewers during the championship matchup in Berlin.
TNT Sports had the U.S. rights
The 2026 tournament marked TNT Sports’ first time carrying the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in the United States. Coverage was distributed through TNT Sports platforms, with the final shown on TNT and truTV and streamed on HBO Max.
FIBA’s agreement with TNT Sports covers major international basketball events through 2029. The partnership includes television and streaming distribution for FIBA competitions in the United States.
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The tournament expanded its U.S. audience
Before 2026, the most-watched FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup game in the United States was the 2022 final between the United States and China. That game averaged 446,000 viewers on ESPN.
The 2026 U.S.-France final averaged substantially more viewers and became the third-most-watched tournament game on record. The five highest U.S. audiences in the event’s history all came from the 2026 competition.
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What did you think of the USA-France final and the record-breaking audience? Like this slideshow and comment with your thoughts on the game and the tournament!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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