Team USA has officially qualified for the quarterfinals of the FIBA Women’s World Cup, and to say that Italy made them work for it would be an understatement. The Americans narrowly escaped past the Italians 55-52, as head coach Kara Lawson made sure to take some lessons from the game.
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“But in the fourth quarter when it was winning time, our veterans came through big, I think Jackie Young was terrific and Chelsea (Gray) makes a big shot late to give us that cushion to five. Sometimes its good to be tested like this. You see where your weaknesses are, and we know exactly where we need to improve,” Kara Lawson told TNT Sports reporter Allie LaForce.
This was the first time since the 2024 Paris Olympics final against France that the USA didn’t secure a convincing win over their opponent. While Lawson’s side eventually came on the right side of history, this is a program that rarely wins by single digits. And to top it off, Italy managed to hold the Stars and Stripes squad to its lowest total in 42 years.
Kara Lawson has been criticized for sticking to the veterans as starters, but if not for that lot, Team USA could have ended the night in embarrassment. With 4:48 left in the fourth quarter, Team USA was down 50-48. Then in came a barrage of attacks from the likes of Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young, who gave the Americans a 7-0 run and a five-point lead that ultimately proved decisive.
But even then, Team USA could have been in trouble if not for Italy and Golden State Valkyries’ star player Cecilia Zandalasini missing a three-point shot that could have tied the contest. Regardless, the forward did more than enough, scoring a game-high 14 points to go with 7 rebounds.
Over on the USA side, Jackie Young took charge with 10 points, with Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Aliyah Boston, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, and Breanna Stewart all putting in their contributions.
However, Caitlin Clark had her worst outing in a USA jersey to date. The Indiana Fever star was on the court for more than 18 minutes, yet managed to score only one point off a free throw attempt. Clark went 0-for-6 from the field and 0-for-3 from outside the arc, but contributed with 4 rebounds.
But regardless, the Italy games showed that there are far deeper issues to unravel for Kara Lawson than just Clark’s off night, who won the FIBA Player of the Game in just the previous game against China and broke many Team USA records through her playmaking proficiency.
Team USA next plays against the Czech Republic on Monday, and with qualification already secured, we might well see a change in the starting lineup, considering the amount of talent on the bench.