Team USA Women’s Basketball Punches Ticket To FIBA World Cup Quarterfinals After ‘Fight It Out’ Victory Against Italy

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

The United States women’s basketball team had its toughest game in almost 20 years in the FIBA World Cup, but managed to escape with a victory Sunday against Italy courtesy of a few clutch buckets and a huge defensive play late in the game by Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray.

The win secures a berth in the tournament’s quarterfinals. (RELATED: Caitlin Clark Stars In National Team Debut As US Obliterates China In Women’s World Cup Opener)

Leading the way for Team USA’s struggling offense was Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young, who scored 10 points in the Americans’ 55-52 victory. It’s the fewest points the United States has scored in a World Cup win since 1967, when it defeated Australia, 42-38.

Now 2-0 in the 2026 edition of the World Cup, Team USA has won 32 consecutive tournament games dating back to 2006 when they lost to Russia in the semifinals. Prior to Sunday, only one nation had finished within single digits of the United States, which took place in 2010 when Australia was beaten by eight points.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Let’s not sugarcoat this: Sunday was certainly an off night, but I’m not going to push the “rest of the world has caught up” narrative like I see others doing.

Let’s check out some of Team USA’s numbers:

• Breanna Stewart: 1-of-9 for 5 points
• Aaliyah Boston: 2-of-7 for 6 points
• Caitlin Clark: 0-of-6 for 1 point

Are you noticing a pattern yet? How often does Caitlin Clark score one point in a game?

Angel Reese (8 points), Paige Bueckers (7 points), Napheesa Collier (6 points) and Chelsea Gray (4 points) were all 2-of-5.

So, spare me the panic. Yes, it was ugly, and yes, it gave everyone watching a brief heart attack, but here is the terrifying reality for the rest of the field: a WNBA-stacked Team USA just turned in its worst offensive performance in decades, played a hungry opponent throwing its absolute best punch, and still walked off the court with a win.

I’m telling you right now: this will be the best shot anyone has at taking down the Americans. This has nothing to do with “the rest of the world has caught up,” but everything to do with a horrendous offensive performance from Team USA.

It’s sports, it happens … and the journey to another gold medal continues.