Team USA nearly tripped up in their FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup run, just barely holding off Italy with a 55-52 defensive struggle in Berlin on Sunday. The close call in their second group game had star Paige Bueckers looking at the big picture for the squad, acknowledging they’ve got some serious polishing to do if they want to snag a fifth consecutive World Cup title.
Bueckers Sees the Upside in the Early Challenge
Despite the scary margin, Bueckers chose to see the upside in facing such a tight game so early. “To be challenged like this early, for our group, I think it’s great for us in the long run,” she told reporters. That “long run” is short, though; the whole World Cup wraps up next Sunday, one way or another. Bueckers was quick to point out that this particular group of US stars has barely played together. “We’ve been together here for five days,” she said, underscoring the team’s need for more time to gel.
Ugly Shooting Numbers Demand Improvement
The win over Italy was, simply put, an ugly defensive struggle, and the numbers don’t lie. Team USA shot a dismal 29 percent from the field! Get this: Bueckers was the only American player to sink a three-point shot in the entire game. She knows that even with her chemistry with Caitlin Clark being a “big plus,” this team needs massive improvement across the board. “We have confidence in our ability to find ways to win, but also have room for growth and know that there’s so much we have to get better at,” Bueckers stressed, not mincing words about what’s ahead.
The quarterfinal spot is already locked up, which is a relief, but the US returns to the court Monday to face Czechia. The pressure’s on to polish those rough edges and show they’ve learned from this nail-biter if they want to keep their championship streak alive.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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