Team USA, France, and Belgium are all unbeaten and ready for elimination play in the FIBA World Cup, but don’t let that perfect record fool you about the Americans. While they technically remain queens of the court, the squad barely survived a scare against Italy in the group stage, with the Italians just three points away from pulling off a historic upset. USA’s undefeated streak in the World Cup now sits at an astounding 32 games, yet that near miss against Italy felt like a thunderclap warning for the defending champions.
The Untouchable Trio And The Cracks Showing
It’s no surprise that this trio of powerhouses made it out of the group stage undefeated. Team USA has absolutely owned this competition, winning it four-straight times. France proved they are a legitimate threat by snatching the silver medal in the 2024 Olympics. And Belgium, the back-to-back EuroBasket Women champs, have shown everyone why they’re ranked No. 5 in the world, even besting No. 3-ranked Australia in this tournament. These three are on a collision course, and only one can run the table and be crowned the best.
But for Team USA, the cracks in the armor are definitely showing. They barely left France with the gold medal in the 2024 Olympics, and that near-upset against Italy in the group stage was way too close for comfort. Look, there are no moral victories in basketball, and a win is a win, but when you’re at the top, there’s nowhere to go but down. And frankly, this team needs to figure out its rotations fast.
Young Guns Versus Veteran Grit: Who Gets The Rock?
Team USA clearly has a ton of talent, but some of their arguably best players are shockingly inexperienced in international play. Caitlin Clark, a certified superstar, is averaging a team-high 21.9 minutes a game, but she isn’t even starting! Then there’s Aliyah Boston, who boasts a better shooting percentage, more steals, and a better plus-minus than Napheesa Collier, yet she’s still behind her in the pecking order. Is it finally time to let these young stars take over and trust that they can win and learn at the same time? It’s a huge question with the entire World Cup on the line.
In defense of Team USA sticking with the vets, so far, it has worked. They are unbeaten, and there’s something to be said for the chemistry and understanding of the international game that veterans bring. Players like Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Chelsea Gray have been in every pressure situation imaginable with Team USA and consistently come out on top. Perhaps they can pull it off again, and this whole conversation can be revisited before the 2028 Olympics. But maybe it can’t wait, and it’s time for the youth movement to take over, because they inevitably will.
The good news for Team USA is they are on the other side of the bracket from both Belgium and France, meaning they won’t face either of those titans until the final. No knockout game can be taken lightly, but the Americans should have a couple more chances to truly optimize their roster before that ultimate showdown. Can they get out of their own way and cement their dynasty, or will France or Belgium finally dethrone the queens? We’re about to find out!
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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