Breanna Stewart Leads U.S. Women to 5th Straight Basketball World Cup Victory: ‘She Is USA Basketball’

Despite a few early stumbles, the U.S. women’s basketball team won their fifth straight FIBA World Cup in Berlin on Sunday, September 13.

After a narrow three-point win over Italy in the group stage, the team beat Spain by 10 to head into the Olympic gold medal rematch with France, which had been far more dominant throughout the tournament.

But U.S. women’s captain, four-time champion Breanna Stewart, led her team, which included fellow WNBA stars Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, to a 97-79 victory.

Stewart became the first player in history to win a second MVP award, after earning 22 points and 10 rebounds.

“I pride myself on being consistent, and that’s showing up when it’s the big moments and the small moments and all the moments in between,” the New York Liberty WNBA player said at a post-game press conference, per ESPN. “It’s like an unrealistic confidence that I have in myself, especially in those big moments. I believe that I always have a chance to win no matter what happens in the game.”

“It starts with Stewie,” coach Kara Lawson praised. “Her leadership, not just tonight, throughout the whole tournament, helping to guide the younger players, talk to them, just show them what it looks like to win.

“The thing that I appreciate about her the most is her willingness to do anything to help the team,” Lawson added. “It’s so rare in a player of her caliber. She will play any position for us to win, and that quality is why she’s the greatest winner that we’ve had, probably.”

“She is USA Basketball,” the coach concluded. “When you think of the last 15 years, it’s Stewie, and we’re just really lucky to be a part of her era of this group.”