The United States women's basketball team will contest the FIBA World Cup final against France in Berlin on Sunday, aiming to extend a 35-game World Cup winning streak. Head coach Kara Lawson has framed the occasion, which falls on the 25th anniversary weekend of the September 11 attacks, as an opportunity for the team to foster national unity beyond the sport itself. France, unbeaten in the tournament and now ranked above the US in FIBA's power rankings after thrashing hosts Germany 86-64 in the semi-final, will provide a tough test and a chance for revenge following their narrow 67-66 defeat to the Americans in the 2024 Olympic final.

A notable subplot has been the on-court partnership between former rivals Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who have bonded as teammates after years of fierce competition and heated fan rivalries on social media. The pair combined for 19 points in a 108-56 quarter-final rout of Hungary, part of a younger group nicknamed the "young and turnt" crew alongside Paige Bueckers. Despite their growing chemistry, Clark, Reese and Bueckers have all come off the bench so far, with Lawson sticking by her veteran-led starting line-up while leaving the door open to changes.