Head coach Kara Lawson has received some flak for her lineup choice since the start of the 2026 FIBA World Cup. The noise got loudest after Team USA nearly lost to Italy in their lowest offesnsive output in 42 years. Despite a 41-point win over Czechia in the following game, they were ranked second behind France in the power ranking. However, crushing Hungary in the quarterfinal, Lawson had the perfect reply for those who doubted the USA after the group-stage game against Italy.
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“It’s okay for people to have opinions…Worrying about someone else’s opinion doesn’t serve you because it doesn’t change whether you can do it or not,” she told reporters during the postgame conference.
“It’s just someone’s opinion. We just try to focus our energy on things that can change results, and that’s our job.”
Lawson has been criticized for going forward with a veteran starting lineup. Several analysts and fans have slammed her for not including young stars to start the game, especially Caitlin Clark. She was in the hot seat after the Italy game. When she credited Clark with giving momentum to the team with her game, critics questioned her for not implementing her own observation.
However, the head coach has been almost stubborn in her choice. Despite mounting criticisms, she has trusted her veterans as starters and brought young stars off the bench. Thursday’s win showed why Lawson believed in her order. The Americans have simply been unmatched since the Italy game, and the scorecard against Hungary was a testament to that.
Team USA defeated Hungary by 52 points, achieving the second-largest margin of victory in World Cup quarterfinal history. It also tied the program’s highest output in any World Cup knockout game, matching their 108-point performance against the Soviet Union in 1986.
Every player on the roster scored for the second time in this World Cup. The first time they did so in this WC, it was against China. Four other players scored in double digits. Rhyne Howard added 15 points. Jackie Young, Caitlin Clark, and Kahleah Copper added 10 points each. Angel Reese and Aliyah Boston dominated the defensive end. They combined for 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks.
The Americans dominated the offensive end, imposing their will in scoring, and Hungary’s defense had no answer. Team USA shot 58.8% from the field, including 52.2% from the 3-point line. It was hard to ignore their chemistry throughout the game. The Americans totaled 31 assists. Lawson put her team’s performance in perspective.
“This was one of our most complete performances of the tournament,” head coach Kara Lawson said after the game, per a video on the FIBA Media YouTube channel.
“Defensively, we were active and forced a lot of turnovers. I was really pleased by that. And then offensively, we as coaches love when they share the ball, and they did that at just a high level.”
On the other hand, Hungary, a team that had played great basketball before Thursday, shot only 34.4% from the field. Only two of their players scored in double digits. Reka Lelik led Hungary with 12 points. Agnes Torok added 11 points. The European team totaled only 13 assists. On the defensive end, they had absolutely no answer for Team USA’s flowing offense. They also gave up 44 points off turnovers.
Team USA will now face the winner of Australia vs. Spain in the semifinal on Saturday, Sep. 12. Spain topped Group A with two wins that came against Germany and Japan. Australians were second in Group C with two wins (Turkey and Puerto Rico). Either of the opponents should not pose the Americans with big challenge.
Their real challenge is against their potential gold medal opponent, France, who have been an absolutely dominant team. They lost to Team USA by one point in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but look like a transformed team that could challenge America’s hegemony.