The U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball team will go into a home Paralympics in Los Angeles in 2028 as the reigning world champion.
The Americans won their first title at the quadrennial worlds since 2010 by beating host Canada 77-76 in the final in Ottawa on Saturday.
With the game tied, Courtney Ryan hit the second of two free-throw attempts with 20.8 seconds left. Canada missed a shot and fouled Ixhelt Gonzalez with 5.1 seconds left. Then after Gonzalez missed both free throws, Canada couldn’t muster a shot on its last possession.
Lindsey Zurbrugg led the U.S. with 26 points. Rose Hollermann and Courtney Ryan each added 17, with Ryan just missing a triple-double (nine assists, eight rebounds).
The U.S. last won Paralympic gold at the 2016 Rio Games, then took bronze in Tokyo and silver in Paris.
Its world championship roster featured 11 of 12 players with Paralympic wheelchair basketball experience, including Hollermann and Becca Murray from the 2016 Paralympic champion team.
The newcomer and youngest player is 18-year-old Arelle Middleton, who has Paralympic track and field experience. She won silver in the F64 shot put at the 2024 Games.
The Netherlands won the previous two world titles and previous two Paralympic titles, but the Dutch were upset by Canada in the semifinals on Thursday.
In the men’s tournament, Australia faces Italy in the final on Saturday at 4:45 p.m. ET, live on Peacock.
The U.S., which won the last three Paralympic titles, was upset in the quarterfinals by Germany.
The U.S. men won a medal at each of the previous 13 World Championships dating to 1975.
