OTTAWA, Ontario — Team USA won the 2026 IWBF World Championships for Women gold medal on Sept. 19, defeating Canada 77-76 in a tense final at TD Place that remained unsettled until the closing seconds.

The atmosphere matched the stakes. A louder crowd than Team USA had encountered through much of the tournament backed the host Canadians, with sustained cheering accompanying a game in which the lead repeatedly changed hands.

Courtney Ryan made the second of two free throws with 20.8 seconds remaining to break a 76-76 tie and provide the final point. Canada missed on its next possession, Ixhelt Gonzalez secured the defensive rebound, and the United States finished the game with a one-point advantage.

CANADA BUILDS EARLY LEAD

Canada gave its home crowd an early reason to make noise, moving ahead 9-2 in the opening two minutes and maintaining control through the first quarter.

Gonzalez scored Team USA’s first basket, while Lindsey Zurbrugg and Rose Hollermann helped keep the United States within range. Canada carried a 27-20 lead into the second quarter.

Zurbrugg said the Canadian support added to the environment rather than becoming a distraction.

“Canada, they showed up. They were rowdy for their team,” Zurbrugg said. “I think it’s fun playing in a crowded environment.”

USA began reducing the deficit early in the second. Zurbrugg scored 11 seconds into the quarter, Hollermann followed, and Ryan eventually put Team USA ahead 32-31 with a layup at 5:14.

Canada responded and went back in front, taking a 41-38 advantage into halftime.

Zurbrugg said the response came without a major change in approach.

“We had some adjustments, but at the end of the day, it was very, very minimal,” Zurbrugg said. “Everything else was just trust the process and trust the defense that we know that we should be playing.”

THIRD-QUARTER EXCHANGE

The tension increased after halftime as neither team was able to create lasting separation.

Gonzalez put Team USA ahead 42-41 with 9:25 remaining in the third quarter. Canada answered through Kady Dandeneau, and the advantage continued shifting back and forth as each possession drew a response.

Ryan’s layup gave USA a 50-48 lead with 6:31 remaining, but Canada answered again. Dandeneau’s late score sent Canada into the fourth quarter ahead 60-59.

With the crowd reacting to each change in possession and every basket, Hollermann said Team USA tried to narrow its focus to execution.

“We’re always focused on ourselves,” Hollermann said. “We’re always focused on the X’s and O’s, one play at a time.”

FOURTH-QUARTER PUSH

The lead continued changing hands early in the fourth.

Zurbrugg put Team USA ahead 63-62 with 6:58 remaining before Canada answered. Ryan then scored at 6:17 to give the United States a 65-64 lead.

Team USA finally created some separation over the next three minutes. Ryan scored again at 4:41, Hollermann followed with a layup at 4:17, and Gonzalez finished at the basket with 3:25 remaining to extend the USA lead to 71-64.

The seven-point margin did not settle the game.

Canada responded behind Dandeneau and Arinn Young, bringing the crowd back into the closing stretch. Dandeneau scored at 1:45, 1:24 and 1:14 before making another jumper with 39.2 seconds remaining to tie the game at 76.

Ryan then drew a foul with 20.8 seconds left. She missed the first free throw and made the second, giving Team USA the 77-76 lead that became the final score.

Head coach Jeremy Lade said the close finish reflected what he expected from the matchup.

“I think Canada’s intensity was really high,” Lade said. “It’s what you expect in a gold medal game, and you expect the game to come down to one possession. That’s exactly what it came down to.”

BALANCED USA OFFENSE

Zurbrugg led Team USA with 26 points on 12-of-18 shooting and added seven assists. Ryan finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. Hollermann recorded 17 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Gonzalez added 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

Team USA shot 53 percent from the field and recorded 30 assists on 35 made field goals while committing four turnovers. Canada finished with a 38-33 rebounding advantage. Dandeneau led Canada with 34 points and 13 rebounds, while Young finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.