The United States survived their toughest test in two decades at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, edging Italy 55-52 in a gripping Group D clash at Berlin Arena on Saturday night.
More than 9,000 fans watched on as the European side shrugged off a sluggish start to claw their way back into contention, ultimately pushing the defending champions to the wire. Italy's defensive intensity was the story of the night: the Azzurre forced the USA into a dismal shooting display from beyond the arc, with the Americans missing their first ten three-point attempts before Paige Bueckers finally broke the drought.
Cecilia Zandalasini was the standout performer, pouring in a game-high 14 points in a display that had the Berlin crowd on its feet. The guard nearly authored one of the great World Cup upsets in the closing seconds, launching a three-pointer that would have forced overtime — only for it to fall short.
Jackie Young was named TCL Player of the Game, the only American to reach double figures with 10 points, a testament to how effectively Italy's defense smothered the reigning champions. The 55 points marked the USA's lowest World Cup total since the introduction of the three-point line in 1984.
"The growth has continued from every single international competition," said Breanna Stewart. "You see it when you've played overseas, or you see it in the WNBA now with so many international players coming in and being a part of that league. I think it's really exciting."
Head coach Kara Lawson acknowledged the threat Italy posed and warned that the tournament's depth of quality makes every game a battle. "This is the most challenging World Cup to win of anyone before, because of how good everyone is," Lawson said. "Every game feels like a dog fight. It's really hard. And on any given night, if you're not prepared to play, you'll lose."
The result leaves the USA at 2-0 in Group D, having already secured a place in the quarter-finals, while Italy drop to 1-1 and face a crucial remaining group fixture. Despite the defeat, the performance will have boosted Italian basketball's confidence on the world stage, with the near-upset underlining how the gap between traditional powerhouses and emerging nations continues to narrow.
Sources
- https://apnews.com/article/womens-basketball-world-cup-fiba-102f213db5f749239742a4c63c1b8dcc
- https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-womens-basketball-world-cup-2026/news/italy-hand-holders-usa-a-major-scare
