> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Storm’s Malonga, France Lose World Cup Final vs. USA - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/storms-malonga-france-lose-world-cup-final-vs-usa/ - Published: 2026-09-14T21:56:47.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:13:23.000Z - Author: Connor Benintendi - Tags: News, Analysis, Storm, Dominique Malonga, Awa Fam, Sonia Raman \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1996"\] ![ Seattle Storm forward Dominique Malonga looks on after a loss against the New York Liberty on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Barclays Center. Credit: Courtesy of Seattle Storm ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/260805_at-nyl_jn-7--281-29-format-original.jpg) Seattle Storm forward Dominique Malonga looks on after a loss against the New York Liberty on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Barclays Center. Credit: Courtesy of Seattle Storm \[/caption\] Seattle Storm forward Dominique Malonga scored a team-high 21 points for France in a 97-79 loss to the USA in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup final on Sunday, Sept. 13, in Berlin. The World Cup came down to the clear-cut top-2 teams, but France was still overall outclassed by Team USA. However, as they had many times during the nine-day tournament, Malonga and former Storm star Gabby Williams carried France. Malonga finished with 21 points (8 of 12 FG), six rebounds and one steal in the loss. Williams totaled 20 points, three rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Team USA was led by Breanna Stewart’s 22 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Jackie Young added 18 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray and Caitlin Clark also scored in double figures. ### **Malonga bounces back, Awa Fam bounced out** Malonga had a strong first two games of the World Cup before struggling a bit over the next three games. She had a combined 10 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in France’s quarterfinals and semifinals victories. However, when it came time to play for a title, Malonga had her best game of the tournament. Unfortunately, France just didn’t have enough juice across the lineup to topple Team USA and all its star power. France was dominant basically the entire tournament, winning its first five games by an average margin of 35.6 points. Team USA won its first five games by an average of 27.8 points, but it had a slightly more challenging field in group play and through the semifinals. The USA bounced out Spain and Storm forward Awa Fam in the semifinals, 76-66\. Fam largely had a great World Cup, but she scored just nine points in the semifinal loss, adding seven rebounds, two assists and a block. Fam and Spain managed to beat Germany in the third/fourth-place game, 81-58, and she totaled 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists. ### **From a Storm perspective** By the World Cup’s end, the USA, France and Spain were the clear top-3 teams. The Storm had two players in big roles on two of those teams. That reinforces the hope many Storm fans are feeling in 2026 despite being on their way to the potential worst season in franchise history. Seattle has exciting young pieces that are on a rapid incline to WNBA stardom. It isn’t translating to wins right now, but it will in future seasons. Head coach Sonia Raman has one of the most exciting young rosters in the league, and it’s up to her to develop those talents and maximize them. We’ve seen how successful players like Malonga and Fam can be in international play, and Raman has the opportunity to build the Storm back into a contender. The Storm (8-32) haven’t played a game together since Aug. 30\. They will be back in action against the Las Vegas Aces (27-13) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Climate Pledge Arena. That will be their second-to-last home game of the season, with the last coming in the season-ender on Wednesday, Sept. 23, against the Dallas Wings.