The U.S. women's basketball team faced an unexpectedly close contest against Italy on Sunday at the FIBA World Cup in Berlin, ultimately securing a 55-52 victory to advance to the quarterfinals. The win, which was far tighter than anticipated, saw the Americans trail with less than five minutes remaining before a late surge sealed their passage.
Down 50-48 with 4:48 left in the game, a 7-0 run powered by baskets from Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray provided the U.S. with a five-point lead. The final seconds were not without drama, as Italy had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer after a jump ball, but Cecilia Zandalasini's attempt was unsuccessful.
This victory was a stark contrast to the teams' previous encounter in March, where the U.S. defeated Italy by 34 points in a qualifier. The U.S. program has a dominant history, having won gold in every Olympics and World Cup since 2006. Their last loss in either competition was to Russia on September 21, 2006.
Despite the absence of key players like A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, who withdrew due to health issues, the U.S. roster remains stacked with talent, including Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Aliyah Boston, all of whom came off the bench. The team began the tournament with a decisive 94-61 win over China and held an early 23-8 lead against Italy before their performance faltered.
The Americans struggled offensively, not making a 3-pointer until late in the third quarter. They also faced challenges with turnovers and finishing through contact, appearing surprised by Italy's competitive play. This unexpected difficulty led to a tightening of their game as Italy closed the gap and briefly took the lead.
No player on the U.S. team reached double-digit points until Jackie Young scored 10 points in the final three minutes. Breanna Stewart, who finished with five points, led the team with 10 rebounds, though she missed eight consecutive field goals before making one. Caitlin Clark went scoreless, missing all six of her shots. The U.S. team shot a combined 29 percent from the field. Zandalasini led Italy with 14 points.
The close result, while securing the U.S. advancement, could serve as a confidence boost for other nations competing in the tournament, highlighting a rare moment of vulnerability for the historically dominant American team.