France star Gabby Williams again denied by US in women's FIBA World Cup final

BERLIN (AP) — France star Gabby Williams again did all she could only to be thwarted once more by the United States in the final of the women’s FIBA World Cup.

The Americans won Sunday’s showdown between the teams 97-79, dealing Williams and France another painful loss after the women’s basketball final at the 2024 Olympics.

The U.S. won that gold medal game in Paris by a point, 67-66, after Williams’ last-second shot was just inside the 3-point line rather than outside to tie the game.

No last-second score could have salvaged anything for France on Sunday as the Americans recovered from a two-point halftime deficit with a dominant third-quarter performance – outscoring their opponents 30-12 – to effectively decide the result well ahead of time.

“I just told my teammates not to put their heads down tonight,” said Williams, who as captain was the first French player to go and congratulate the winners. “We have a lot to be proud of, but I think we’re gonna remember how this feels.”

Williams had done her best, but she couldn’t do it alone for France.

The former UConn standout scored 20 points, made three rebounds, seven assists, and three steals in Sunday’s final, capping an outstanding tournament in which she had scored an average 18.7 points across her six games.

“Of course we’re disappointed right now, but I think we’re showing little by little, France is a basketball country,” she said. “That was my goal, when I joined this team ... to change the culture. Obviously we have higher expectations, but we’ll get there.”

Dominique Malonga led France against the U.S. with 21 points and six rebounds. Marine Johannès netted one 3-pointer from five attempts and finished with five points.

Ultimately none of them could stop Breanna Stewart (22 points), Jackie Young (18), Kahleah Copper (15) or Chelsea Gray and Caitlin Clark (both 12).

“This was an easy group to lead,” Williams said of her teammates. “It was obviously intimidating being given this role, given this pressure, but I think just with this group it was very easy. I just wanted to pour into them as much as I can and make them feel as confident, because I really do still believe in every single person on our roster. I just want them to believe in themselves.”

France coach Jean-Aimé Toupane concluded the post-game press conference by speaking of his admiration for the captain.

“She demonstrated that she had the capacity, she led this team. I'm proud of her,” Toupane said. “The whole team followed her, and she showed us the way. Now we need to come back stronger as a team.”

France started promisingly against the U.S. and began the second quarter with eight unanswered points. The U.S. called a timeout. Williams then scored a 3-pointer to put France 14 points clear and wheeled away with her right arm up in celebration.

Angel Reese looked concerned. She didn’t need to. Clark ended the half with a triple to leave the U.S. trailing by just two points and the four-time defending champions kept going from there.

Williams had been playing it cool before the game, insisting she had “no preference” which country France faced in the final after she’d led her team in the semifinal win over host Germany. The U.S. still had to play Spain that night at Berlin Arena.

If Williams felt she had unfinished business with the U.S., she refused to acknowledge it.

No French player wanted to give the Americans any more motivation than they already had before the final, and Williams has made a point of not making her true feelings known.

“We’re not going to show weaknesses on the court, we’re not going to show doubts. If we did, our opponents would eat us alive,” she said.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

French players pose with silver medals after the Women's Basketball World Cup final match between the United States and France in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

France's Gabby Williams guards Breanna Stewart, of the United States, during the Women's Basketball World Cup final match between the United States and France in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

France's Gabby Williams guards Breanna Stewart, of the United States, during the Women's Basketball World Cup final match between the United States and France in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

NEW YORK (AP) — Alexander Zverev won his second major championship and kept American men without a Grand Slam title since 2003, beating Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday in the U.S. Open final.

Zverev finally broke through in the majors by winning this year’s French Open and followed up by finally adding the title in New York that he so painfully let slip away in 2020.

The No. 1 seed in a Grand Slam for the first time, he capitalized on Shelton’s shaky start in his first major final, played a nearly flawless tiebreaker on serve and then turned back Shelton’s comeback attempt in front of a crowd that desperately cheered him on.

Shelton was trying to win the first title by an American man since Andy Roddick won in Flushing Meadows in 2003, as well as the first by a Black man since Arthur Ashe in 1968.

But Zverev was too good in majors this year and apparently didn't even know how good he was. He finished the match on his serve but didn't seem to realize it, dropping back behind the baseline as if set to return. Only a few moments later did he figure out he had won, raising his arms in celebration.

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, reaches to return the ball to Ben Shelton, of the United States, during the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ben Shelton, of the United States, returns the ball to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Ben Shelton, of the United States, spins his racket during the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships against Alexander Zverev, of Germany, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns the ball to Ben Shelton, of the United States, during the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, serves the ball to Karen Khachanov, of Russia, during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ben Shelton, of the United States, reacts after he won his match against Frances Tiafoe, of the United States, during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Alexander Zverev, of Germany, returns the ball to Karen Khachanov, of Russia, during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ben Shelton, of the United States, hits balls to audience after he won his match against Frances Tiafoe, of the United States, during the men's singles semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis championships Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)