The Barrier Has Been Broken: French WNBA Star Sounds Alarm on Team USA's Dominance
In a bold prediction, French WNBA star Aminata Gueye is warning the world that Team USA's reign at the top of women's basketball is coming to an end. Gueye, who plays for the Golden State Valkyries, believes that the gap between the Americans and the rest of the world is narrowing, and that France is ready to take on the challenge.
"We've seen their real weaknesses and what could stop them," Gueye said in an interview on the popular French weekend sports debate radio show Les Grandes Gueules du Sport. "They're no longer invincible like they used to be. In 2030, at the World Cup, we'll beat them!"
Gueye's statement may seem like a distant dream, but when you look at the recent performances of Team USA, you can't help but wonder if she might be onto something. The Americans have won eight consecutive Olympic gold medals, dating back to the 1996 Atlanta Games. They have also not lost an Olympic game since 1992, maintaining an incredible 61-game Olympic winning streak.
However, the last couple of tournaments have shown a different story. In the 2024 Paris Olympics final, France came within inches of ending the Americans' remarkable 61-game Olympic winning streak. Gabby Williams' buzzer-beating attempt saw her foot land on the three-point line, meaning the shot counted for two points instead of three. Had Williams been a little further behind the line, her basket would have tied the game at 67-67 and forced a five-minute overtime period.
The near-upset was a major talking point ahead of the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup final in September. And for a while, it looked as though France might finally dethrone the Americans. The French side built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and went into halftime with a 45-43 advantage, putting Team USA under considerable pressure.
However, the Americans found a way to turn things around in the third quarter. Head coach Kara Lawson made defensive adjustments at halftime, and the difference was immediate. Gabby Williams, who torched the United States for 16 points in the first half, was scoreless in the third quarter and managed just four points throughout the entire second half. And then Team USA subsequently closed the third quarter with a commanding 73-57 lead before eventually securing a 97-79 victory.
France was not the only national team to prove a formidable challenge for the Americans during the 2026 World Cup, either. Team USA also received a major scare from Italy during the group stage, narrowly escaping with a 55–52 victory in what turned out to be one of their toughest games of the tournament.
The Americans struggled considerably in that encounter, shooting a tournament-low 29% from the field and converting just one of their 12 attempts from beyond the three-point line. Their 55-point total was also their lowest in a World Cup game since 1971. Italy, meanwhile, even managed to take a 50–48 lead in the fourth quarter before late free throws and a clutch jumper from Chelsea Gray eventually sealed the narrow three-point victory for the United States.
With performances like these, it is becoming increasingly difficult to argue that the gap between Team USA and the other leading nations in women's basketball remains as wide as it once was. France and Italy have both demonstrated that the Americans can be pushed to their limits, and more importantly, that their weaknesses can be identified and exploited.
Gueye's bold prediction may seem like a distant dream, but when you look at the recent performances of Team USA, you can't help but wonder if she might be onto something. Will France finally eclipse the Americans' dominance and establish themselves as the new force in international women's basketball? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the competition is heating up, and it's going to be an exciting ride.
Written by: Padre Bodyslam | The Citizen Edition
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