Team USA usually just dominates World Cup games. So when they barely squeaked out a three-point win, 55-52, against Italy on Sunday in Berlin, Germany, it felt… off. Seriously, it was jarring. Just six months ago, these same Americans dropped Italy by a massive 34 points in the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This wasn’t the USA basketball we know.
What Even Was That, Team USA?
Let’s be real, this game was an absolute grind, a brutal watch. The 55-52 final score screams ‘ugly affair.’ Team USA shot a dismal 29 percent from the field, somehow worse than Italy’s 31 percent. We only hit a single 3-pointer, while Italy drained three. Missing eight free throws? That’s supposed to be our reliable source of points! Early on, it felt like everyone was just forcing things, trying to get their own buckets instead of playing team basketball. Then, as the game stayed tight, our players seemed too unassertive, appearing afraid to make a mistake. Even Breanna Stewart, our most experienced player and usually automatic, was unable to buy a basket, going 1-for-9 for just five points. Aliyah Boston, usually efficient, had six points on seven attempts. Kahleah Copper missed all four field goal attempts, scoring her six points from the foul line. Caitlin Clark managed just one point, also from the line, after missing all six field goal attempts. Only Napheesa Collier and Paige Bueckers’ 2-for-5 efforts stood out as merely subpar. Italy, on the other hand, played with fiery, feisty motivation and emotion our team simply lacked.
Clutch Aces Pulled Off the Escape
Honestly, the only reason Team USA walked out of Berlin with that ‘W’ is because of that pure Las Vegas Aces mentality. We know A’ja Wilson wasn’t there, but thank goodness Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young absolutely showed up when it counted. Young was hands down the Americans’ best player, not just the only one to hit double figures. Her points came when we desperately needed them, hitting crucial buckets down the stretch, earning free throws, and crashing the glass. She even effectively pestered Cecilia Zandalisini on Italy’s final possession, making sure they couldn’t force overtime with a late three. Talk about clutch! And then there’s Chelsea Gray, the Point Gawd herself. When our offense was completely out of sorts, she grabbed the controls, orchestrating the eventual win, even if it wasn’t pretty. She hit a classic Chelsea midrange fadeaway at just the perfect moment, providing that spark. Without those two stepping up big, this game could have been an absolute embarrassment.
So, yeah, Team USA got the win, but barely. It felt like they survived rather than thrived. This performance was a serious wake-up call, a reminder that you can’t just go through the motions in the World Cup. It’s time to find that fire, that focus, and that consistent team play. We need to see more fight and less sloppiness, because the World Cup stage demands our absolute best. Let’s hope they learn from this!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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