In Berlin on a Sunday in September 2026, the United States claimed their twelfth Women's Basketball World Cup title, defeating France 97-79 in a final that traced the familiar arc of American dominance reasserting itself after a moment of genuine vulnerability. France, appearing in their first-ever World Cup final and carrying the memory of a one-point Olympic loss two years prior, built a commanding lead before the Americans' depth and composure dismantled them in the third quarter. The victory extended a streak that has now reached thirty-six consecutive World Cup wins — a record that speaks