The U.S. women’s basketball team edged Italy 55-52 on Sunday in Berlin, securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. Playing at Uber Arena, the Americans faced their closest World Cup game and smallest margin of victory since their last defeat in the tournament in 2006.
Team USA Survives Late Scare Against Italy to Secure Quarterfinal Berth
Italy led 50-49 with 3:21 remaining before the U.S. reclaimed control down the stretch of the group-stage matchup. Cecilia Zandalasini had a game-high 14 points for Italy and a final opportunity to send the game into overtime, but her three-pointer with three seconds left sailed wide. Breanna Stewart secured the rebound to seal the victory, moving the U.S. to 2-0 in group play.
Historic Struggles and Defensive Battles
The U.S. offense labored throughout the afternoon, shooting an abysmal 29 percent from the field on 16-of-56 shooting and hitting just 1 of 12 attempts from beyond the arc. The 55 points marked the lowest-scoring output for a U.S. team at a World Cup since 1971. Jackie Young led the Americans with 10 points, shooting 4 for 6 from the field, while Stewart added five points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Italy’s defense stymied the defending champions, forcing 14 turnovers and capitalizing on early offensive stagnation. After jumping out to a 19-8 lead after the first quarter, the U.S. watched its advantage evaporate as Italy rallied to trail by just three points entering the fourth quarter.
Coach Lawson and Players React to the Close Call
Team USA head coach Kara Lawson acknowledged the team’s offensive limitations while praising their late-game execution. You do have to be able to win when you don’t have your fastball,
Lawson said, according to NBC Sports. Lawson also highlighted a critical momentum-shifting charge taken by Chelsea Gray late in the contest.
Stewart echoed those sentiments regarding the team’s resilience. Italy really kind of mucked up the game for us a little bit and made it difficult for us to score,
Stewart said, as reported by CBS Sports. Tough team. Tons of respect to what they’ve done. Just proud of the resiliency of this group.
Tournament Context and Next Steps
The narrow win extends the U.S. winning streak at the FIBA World Cup to 32 consecutive games, dating back to their 2006 semifinal loss to Russia. Playing without A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum—who withdrew in the week prior due to health reasons—the roster features several high-profile players adjusting to international play, including Caitlin Clark, who was held scoreless with one point and zero field goals.
Italy, making its first global championship appearance since the 1996 Olympics, nearly pulled off a historic upset behind Zandalasini, who plays for the Golden State Valkyries.
With qualification for the knockout rounds secured, Team USA will conclude group play against Czechia on Monday, while Italy continues its tournament campaign ahead of the upcoming quarterfinals scheduled for Thursday.
