The United States women’s basketball team is still perfect at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, but Sunday’s perfect record came with plenty of imperfections. The Americans held off Italy 55-52 in their second group-play game in Berlin, Germany, to advance to the quarterfinals. The victory extended Team USA’s winning streak to 32 consecutive World Cup games, but it was the smallest margin of victory since 1979 and the lowest field-goal shooting percentage (28.6 percent) in the program’s World Cup history.

“Every single one of those wins came hard. ... and we understand that,” said head coach Kara Lawson. “You have to have great respect for who you play, you have to prepare in a way to win. And so, it’s supposed to be challenging, and we’re supposed to have moments where we’re not at our best. And the teams that can persevere through that and have a resilient mindset are the ones that are able to win. If you’re fortunate enough at the end of the tournament to be the winner, that’s why it’s so satisfying.”

The Americans’ previous meeting with Italy came in March at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico, where Team USA cruised to a 93-59 win behind Kahleah Copper’s game-high 15 points. Five Americans scored in double figures that day. On Sunday, only Jackie Young reached double figures, finishing with 10 points to lead all U.S. scorers. The rest of the roster combined for 45 points on an ugly afternoon, but a handful of defining performances made the difference.

Winners

Chelsea Gray’s clutch gene

Chelsea Gray has built a career on delivering in the moments that matter most, and she did it again against Italy. Gray did not have a clean offensive night—she was 1-of-5 from the field before her decisive basket. But with the game on the line, the veteran guard found another gear. She drew a timely offensive charge with about three minutes remaining, flipping momentum back to the United States.

Then, with 1:07 showing on the clock, Gray sank a tough two-point jumper to put the U.S. ahead 55-50. The shot forced Italy to burn a timeout and gave the Americans enough breathing room to close out the game. Lawson called it “an incredible winning play by Gray.” The basket didn’t just seal the win; it encapsulated the poise that has made Gray one of the most trusted guards in international basketball.

Angel Reese’s defense

Angel Reese’s stat line may not jump off the page—eight points, three rebounds, one steal and two blocks—but her energy was a stabilizing force for a Team USA unit that struggled to score. Reese made all four of her free throws and knocked down two field goals, providing a reliable interior presence while the rest of the offense searched for answers.

Lawson praised Reese’s approach after the game. “She comes into the game, and she plays with great energy, and she competes. She scores, she rebounds, she plays with great pace.” The coach added that Reese “finds a way to make an impact.” Her defensive activity helped slow Italy’s rhythm and gave the Americans stops when they needed them most.

Italy’s defense

Italy deserves as much credit as anyone for turning this game into a defensive slugfest. After falling behind 19-8 in the first quarter while playing man-to-man defense, Italy switched to a zone and immediately disrupted the U.S. attack. The Italians held the Americans to 28.6 percent shooting from the floor, the lowest mark a USA team has ever posted in a World Cup game. They were physical around the rim, protected the paint and forced contested looks all over the court.

Forward Cecilia Zandalasini, who led Italy with 14 points and seven rebounds, explained the strategy: “We wanted to break their rhythm because when they get their rhythm, it’s really unstoppable. ... We try with the zone, we try different matchups, we try some switches and did a great, great job on their post player because I know they want to put the ball inside.” Italy’s tactical adaptability made this a far different game from the March blowout.

Losers

Italy controls USA in the paint

Team USA spent much of the game trying to establish itself inside, and Italy refused to let that happen. The United States shot 10-for-35 on paint attempts and went 15-for-44 on two-pointers overall. Lawson trusted the process, but the execution was missing: “We got quality looks against their zone and against their man in the paint, exactly where we wanted. We just missed them. We missed the layups, and so, hopefully, moving forward, we can finish a few more.”

The Americans were rescued by the free-throw line, where they finished 22-for-30. But relying on foul shots is not a sustainable formula. Breanna Stewart acknowledged as much after the game: “Obviously, Italy really kind of mucked up the game for us a little bit, and it made it hard on us to score. Tough team. This is a tough tournament, but we all really acknowledge that.”

The USA’s inability to make a 3

The U.S. came into this game riding high after knocking down 12 of 32 attempts from beyond the arc in an opening win over China. Against Italy, that shooting touch disappeared. Team USA finished 1-for-12 from three-point range. Caitlin Clark went 0-for-3, while Rhyne Howard and Kahleah Copper each missed both of their attempts. Paige Bueckers was the only American to connect from deep, hitting the team’s lone three-pointer with 1:45 left in the third quarter.

Italy coach Andrea Capobianco was pleased with his team’s game plan and its execution. “That was a game plan, and we played with our heart,” he said. “That was the key actually.” The coach also stressed the need to keep perspective, noting, “We just gotta keep going. We have another very important game tomorrow. Now, we showed what we’re capable of.”

Team USA’s mystifying field goal problems

It is almost unthinkable for a USA roster filled with All-Stars to have multiple players go without a field goal in a World Cup game. Yet that is exactly what happened Sunday. At one point, four Americans were still searching for their first made basket. Breanna Stewart, who missed her first eight attempts, finally converted with 3:20 left in the fourth quarter—an important bucket that helped steady the ship.

The final numbers were staggering for some of the sport’s biggest names. Caitlin Clark went 0-for-6 from the field, Kahleah Copper was 0-for-4 and Sonia Citron missed her only shot. Many attempts looked good in the air, only to rattle out. The inability of the team’s stars to find the net made the game far more stressful than expected.

The turnaround will be quick for the Americans, who face Czechia on Monday, Sept. 7, less than 24 hours after this grind. If the outside shooters remain cold and the paint stays clogged, Team USA will need to rediscover its offensive identity in a hurry. Sunday’s escape against Italy proved that defense and resilience can carry a team, but finishing will be essential if the Americans want to extend their World Cup dominance.

Source: MSN News