Italy came a whisker away from handing the defending champions USA their first loss in the World Cup in over two decades. Cecilia Zandalasini pulled out all the stops and scored a game-high 14 points, but her team’s heroic defensive display was not sufficient for the win, as the USA held on for a 55-52 win.
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For Cecilia Zandalasini, it was tough not to be emotional as she displayed her frustration with the officiating in the dying moments of the game.
“I would like to apologize for how I reacted in the end. It wasn’t sporting at all. Yeah, just want to apologize to the team and to the referee. Just when I wear this jersey is, just I different me I guess, now I even feel embarrassed, so I just wanted to say it out loud and to whoever is watching this, thank you,” said Zandalasini in the post-game press conference, which was clipped to X by user Luis Vallejo.
With the game still in the balance with less than 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Zandalasini attempted a shot from beyond the arc. Jackie Young was defending Zandalasini, and the live game commentary mentioned that Young poked Zandalasini in the eye. While Zandalasini did ultimately attempt the three-pointer after receiving a pass from her teammate, she and the Italian side showed clear frustration at the apparent no-call.
Zandalasini and a few Italian players rushed towards the referee as the final whistle blew, only to be separated by their teammates and the coaching staff. Zandalasini was visibly upset, screaming at the referee about the lack of a call, as teammate Francesca Pan joined her, gesturing towards her eye, probably referencing the contact with Young.
It’s hard not to empathize with Zandalasini and Co. The Italians put on a defensive masterclass, stifling the elite offensive firepower of the US squad. This game marked the lowest point total for the American FIBA team since 1971.
The USA could not convert any of their first 10 shots from beyond the arc. Paige Bueckers was the first to finally land one. The US’s efficiency from the field was no better, with the entire team converting just 28.6% of their shots, and their conversion rate from beyond the arc was even lower, at just 8.3%.
This unfortunate night of shooting takes on a more serious tone when one looks at the firepower that the US squad has, with the likes of Caitlin Clark, Rhyne Howard, etc., just to name a few, who easily average above 40% FG in regular WNBA games. Jackie Young was the only player on Team USA with double-digit points, recording a modest 10 points.
Before facing Italy, Caitlin Clark boldly claimed her teammates simply would not miss a shot. Well, what unfolded on the court told a radically different story.
Breanna Stewart also echoed a similar sentiment.
“Italy really kind of mucked up the game for us a little bit and made it difficult for us to score. But tough team, tons of respect to what they’ve done and just proud of the resiliency of this group,” said Breanna Stewart after the game, per WNBA reporter Scott Agness.
A 51-50 lead, engineered by Breanna Stewart’s mid-range jumper at the 3:20 mark, stood as the fourth quarter’s ultimate turning point. It started a dominant burst, where the Americans added four points from Young and Gray, while Italy added just two points off Matilde Villa’s fadeaway jump shot. Even with rebounding almost evenly split, Italy’s offensive flow evaporated entirely, yielding zero assists and no steals through the closing minutes. Despite Cecilia Zandalasini’s offensive showing, the Italian side fell to the Americans.
Even before the game, Caitlin Clark aptly gave flowers to Cecilia Zandalasini.
“Zandalasini’s had an incredible year with the Valkyries. Coach Nat, who’s on our staff, has been able to coach her and really get the best out of her,” Clark said, speaking to reporters after the win over China
“I think she’s an incredible player. It seems like every game she continues to get better and better. She can stretch the floor. She can score in the mid-range. She has great size. She’s athletic. So, you know, she’ll be one of the keys to our scouting report, I’m sure. But she’s certainly had a tremendous year, and I would expect her to do the same for Italy as well.”
Indeed, Clark was right. Zandalasini ended up being the top scorer of the low-scoring game, with 14.
Having avoided their first loss in the World Cup in over two decades, Team USA will take on Czechia in their next game and will hope that this one does not go to the wire.