Team USA clawed its way to a narrow 55-52 win over Italy on Sunday, a game that felt like a full-blown upset scare and was far from the confident victory everyone expected. This was the second Group D win of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, sure, but it felt a million miles away from the 93-59 shellacking the U.S. put on Italy in the qualifiers back in March. Talk about a different story.
This Team Went Ice Cold, For Real
The Americans kicked things off strong, jumping to a 19-8 lead in the first quarter with those quick possessions and suffocating defense we all love to see. But then? The offense just disappeared. Italy started chipping away, tightening up their defense with zone and man-to-man schemes. Team USA went absolutely ice cold from the field. They kept firing up threes, but couldn’t hit one until Paige Bueckers finally connected from deep with just 1:50 left in the third quarter. Before that, the U.S. was a brutal 0-10 from beyond the arc. They somehow held on to a slim 42-39 lead going into the fourth, but that kind of shooting is not sustainable for any team.
A Nail-Biter Finish and Quarterfinal Qualification
The final frame was all back-and-forth action. Chelsea Gray hit a crucial jumper with 1:07 left, pushing the United States up 55-50. Italy quickly responded with a jumper of their own, keeping the pressure on. Jackie Young came up with a massive rebound that didn’t lead to points, but it definitely helped burn precious seconds off the clock. The drama didn’t stop there. Italy’s Cecilia Zandalasini tried to get off a three or draw a foul, feeling she got poked in the eye during the possession. No call. She missed the heave, Breanna Stewart secured the rebound, and the clock ran out. Zandalasini was incensed, having to be held back by her teammates and coaches as she let the referees know exactly how she felt. The win technically qualifies Team USA for the quarterfinals of the World Cup, but man, did they make it hard on themselves. They finished the game a paltry 16 of 56 from the floor, a brutal 29% shooting percentage. If they hadn’t converted 22 of their 30 free throws, compared to Italy’s 14 of 20, they might have lost this game. This was the lowest point total for Team USA in the FIBA Women’s World Cup since 1971. That’s a stat that screams “problem.”
The United States gets back to work tomorrow against Czechia. They are in the quarterfinals, but they absolutely need to figure out this beyond-the-arc issue. Finishing 1-12 from three, including going 0-3 in both the first and second quarters, is just not gonna cut it deeper in this tournament.
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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