Team USA women’s basketball is tipping off its campaign for a fifth consecutive and 12th overall gold medal at the FIBA World Cup this Friday in Berlin, Germany. The Americans are riding an absolutely insane 30-game winning streak at the World Cup, a run stretching all the way back to September 21, 2006, when Russia took them down 75-68 in the semifinals. But even with that kind of dominance, this isn’t going to be some cakewalk. Two massive players, A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, are out due to health reasons, leaving a real void right when the global competition is heating up.
The Streak Is Real, But So Is the Pressure
This 30-game winning streak at the World Cup is no joke. It’s a testament to the talent pool Team USA consistently brings to the court. The preliminary rounds are set for September 4-7, and our squad is grouped with China, Italy, and Czechia. Honestly, those teams are facing an uphill battle trying to stop this American powerhouse from advancing. We’re talking about a roster stacked with names like Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Caitlin Clark, and Jackie Young leading the charge. These are players who know how to win, and they’ll be looking to make a statement right from game one against China on Friday at 8:15 a.m. ET.
No Wilson? No Plum? The Path to Gold Just Got Tougher
Here’s where it gets real: losing A’ja Wilson for this tournament is a major blow. She was Team USA’s leading scorer at the Olympics, and that kind of production doesn’t just get replaced overnight. Kelsey Plum also stepping away for health reasons only amplifies the challenge. Head coach Kara Lawson isn’t sugarcoating it, either. She said this week, “The world is improving and has continued to improve, and there’s more depth to the teams at the World Cup now… I think it’s going to be the most difficult World Cup to win that we’ve had because of that.” She’s right. Keep an eye on France, for instance. They’re loaded with WNBA stars, and they nearly pulled off the upset in the championship game at the 2024 Paris Olympics. If those two meet in the knockout rounds, get ready for a heavyweight fight.
Team USA is going to need everyone on that roster,from Aliyah Boston and Paige Bueckers to Chelsea Gray and Angel Reese,to step up and deliver. The group stage games will be broadcast on TNT/HBO Max, with USA vs. Italy on Sunday, September 6, and USA vs. Czechia on Monday, September 7, both at 2:45 p.m. ET. After that, it’s straight into the knockout rounds: Quarterfinals on Thursday, September 10, Semifinals on Saturday, September 12, and the Final on Sunday, September 13, at 2 p.m. ET. This team is chasing history without two of its biggest stars, and the rest of the world is ready to pounce. It’s going to be thrilling to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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