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The newest FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup power ranking has delivered great news for aspiring champions France, who have earned the top spot in the ranking after completing a perfect group stage on Monday.
The new power ranking has not been as kind to the United States. Team USA fell to the second spot -- and while the Americans still can be considered the favorites to win a record-extending 12th World Cup, France carries more momentum into the knockout stage than the US.
MORE: Gabby Williams and record-breaking France are Team USA's biggest FIBA World Cup threat
The United States completed a perfect group stage of their own after a dominant 105-64 win against Czechia on Monday. All 12 players scored, and 31 of the Americans' 42 baskets were assisted.
But the 41-point victory was a needed response after Sunday's narrow win against Italy. The US shot only 29 percent from the field in a 55-52 win, while in Group B, France strolled to top spot and the largest point differential of any team.
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) September 8, 2026Team USA ran up a plus-77 point differential in Group D, boasting an average victory margin of 25.7 points.
But France outscored its group stage opponents by 127 points, punctuating its superiority with a record-setting 111-56 win over Nigeria on Sunday. In that game, France drained 22 three-pointers, a FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup record.
Perhaps it's a good thing for the US that a meeting with France would not take place until the gold medal game. The expectation remains that such a talent-rich American side -- headlined by Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese -- will reach the final without many issues.
However, once there, a hungry France team pursuing its first World Cup could hand the US a knockout blow: its first World Cup loss of any kind since 2006. Based on the latest power ranking, it might not be such a big surprise.
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