Team USA absolutely kicked off their FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup run in Germany with a statement, crushing China 94-61 in their first game! This wasn’t just any win, either. Head coach Kara Lawson, making her national tournament debut, rolled out a squad with seven new players to the senior national team, and it was that youth movement that finished the job in a seriously dominant way. Our women are chasing a fifth straight World Cup title, and the kids are already showing they are ready for the challenge.
The Passing of the Torch Happened Faster Than You Think
Lawson started with the five returning veterans: Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart, who’s tying a USA record with her fourth World Cup appearance. They got the squad rolling, snagging a 10-4 lead. But hold up, because the subs started coming fast. Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston came in early, followed by Rhyne Howard and then Paige Bueckers. By the end of the first quarter, Team USA was up 27-12, and you could feel the new energy already buzzing on the court.
Youth Movement Takes Control, Never Lets Go
The veterans returned for the start of the third quarter with USA up 49-29, trying to keep China from gaining any ground. But around the 4:42 mark, with Team USA leading 53-35, Lawson made the call: full youth lineup on the floor. Clark, Bueckers, Reese, Howard, and Boston took over, and the veterans didn’t even touch the floor again. Young led the veteran scorers with 12 points, while Stewart added 7 points and 7 rebounds, but the game belonged to the next generation. From 3:53 in the third quarter until the final buzzer, the young guns outscored China an insane 41-26! Rhyne Howard was a spark, especially when China went zone, dropping four 3-pointers and tying for the team-high 14 points with Clark and Bueckers. Even late-add Sonia Citron got in on the action, laying in the final bucket off a sweet feed from Clark after a Reese block. Every player logged at least 11 minutes and everyone scored, which tells you everything about the depth and readiness of this squad.
This is exactly what you want to see in the group games. Coach Lawson is using this time to experiment and let the newbies get acclimated. They’ve only had about three days in Germany, but that established chemistry between the Fever duo of Boston and Clark is already paying off big time. Team USA is off Saturday, then they face Italy on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET, and close out with Czechia on Monday, also at 2:45 p.m. ET. Expect to see deep playing time for the younger players in those matchups, and honestly, we can’t wait to see what they do next!
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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