The United States women’s basketball team managed to extend its historic winning streak at the FIBA World Cup on Sunday, though the narrow 55-52 victory over Italy in Berlin felt more like a survival act than a dominant performance. While the Americans secured their 32nd consecutive tournament win to advance to the quarterfinals, they did so while enduring their worst shooting night in World Cup history. From the floor, the U.S. hit a dismal 29 percent of their shots, marking their smallest margin of victory since 1979 and leaving several star players struggling to find any rhythm throughout the contest.
Despite the offensive collapse, Angel Reese emerged as a critical spark plug for Team USA. With the offense stalling, Reese leaned on her defensive intensity to keep Italy at bay, contributing two blocks, a steal, and three rebounds along with eight points. Coach Kara Lawson praised Reese for her energy and ability to compete under pressure, noting that the young player found ways to impact the game even when others were struggling. Her resilience provided a necessary anchor for a squad that seemed completely rattled by Italy’s physicality and strategic shifts.
Italy nearly pulled off a massive upset by utilizing a suffocating zone defense that effectively neutralized the American interior game. By packing the paint and forcing contested shots, Italy limited Team USA to just one successful three pointer across twelve attempts. For much of the evening, high profile scorers like Caitlin Clark and Kahleah Copper were held scoreless from the field, creating an uncharacteristically fragile atmosphere for the defending champions who had previously dismantled Italy in qualifying play earlier this year.
Ultimately, veteran experience salvaged the result for the United States. Chelsea Gray stepped up in the closing minutes, drawing a crucial charge before sinking a gritty jump shot with just over a minute remaining to push the lead to 55-50. Though Team USA relied heavily on free throws to supplement their lack of field goals, Gray’s clutch execution ensured they moved forward in the tournament despite a night that would likely leave them wanting to erase certain stretches of film from their memory.
