Team USA gets more than a title at FIBA World Cup | Opinion

This was the best possible outcome for USA women's basketball.

Another title at the FIBA World Cup, of course, their record-tying fifth in a row. Add in their eight consecutive Olympic gold medals, and there is little question the Americans are one of the greatest dynasties. Of any sport, from any era.

All dynasties eventually end, however, and the rest of the world is gaining on the Americans. Which is why Team USA’s performance at this World Cup, the final in particular, was so significant.

Don’t be fooled by the final score, a 97-79 victory over France on Sunday, Sept. 13, in Berlin, Germany. Les Bleues pushed the Americans. Hard. Even harder than they pushed the Americans at the Paris Olympics. At one point in the second quarter, France had a 14-point lead, Les Bleues were draining 3s as if they were playing Pop-a-Shot and Gabby Williams was dominating.

Rarely had the Americans looked this beatable, even in that Italy game earlier in the tournament.

But they figured it out. They started getting defensive stops, making jumpers and exerting their will inside. They closed the half on a 26-14 run that pulled them within two, then came out with a…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/