What happened: Kara Lawson coached USA Basketball to the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup title, with Breanna Stewart closing the tournament as MVP. The championship was the program's fifth consecutive World Cup crown and 12th overall.
Why it matters: Stewart added a fourth World Cup gold and remained unbeaten across 23 World Cup games. Lawson's group extended a run of dominance that dates to the program's last World Cup loss in 2006.
By the numbers: USA Basketball beat France 97-79 in the final after trailing by 14 in the first half. Stewart finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and the Americans won the third quarter 30-12.
What to watch: The next checkpoint is how USA Basketball carries this roster mix toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.