Key Developments

The United States women's basketball team faced an unexpected challenge in the World Cup, battling past Italy with a narrow 55-52 win on Sunday. This marked the Americans' most difficult contest in the tournament in two decades, pushing their remarkable 32-game World Cup winning streak, which dates back to 2006, to its limit. Only Australia in 2010 had previously come within single digits of the U.S. during this dominant run.

The game saw the U.S. record its lowest point total in a preliminary-round match since 1971, struggling against Italy's effective 2-3 zone defense. The Americans shot just 29% from the field and a dismal 1 for 12 from beyond the arc. Despite leading 30-24 at halftime, the U.S. saw Italy launch an 11-2 run to start the third quarter, briefly trailing 35-32 before regaining a 42-39 lead by the end of the period.

The fourth quarter remained tight, with Italy taking a 50-48 lead with just over four minutes remaining. However, the U.S. responded with a crucial 7-0 run to seize control. Breanna Stewart, who had missed her first eight shots, scored her first basket to put the U.S. up 51-50. Jackie Young followed with a layup, and Chelsea Gray added a jumper to extend the lead to five. Italy's Matilde Villa cut the deficit to three, and Cecilia Zandalasini, who led Italy with 14 points, had a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but her 3-pointer was off the mark.

Key Takeaways

  • The U.S. women's basketball team endured its most challenging World Cup game in 20 years, securing a narrow three-point victory against Italy.
  • Italy's tenacious 2-3 zone defense limited the Americans to their lowest preliminary-round score since 1971, highlighting their defensive prowess.
  • The U.S. successfully extended its impressive 32-game World Cup winning streak, demonstrating resilience under significant pressure.

Why It Matters

This hard-fought victory for the U.S. signals a potential shift in the landscape of women's international basketball. While the Americans maintained their incredible winning streak, the performance by Italy, making its first World Cup appearance since 1994, demonstrates a growing competitiveness among international teams. Italy, which had lost to the U.S. by 34 points in a qualifier just months prior, proved they are a force to be reckoned with, backed by a vocal crowd in Berlin.

For the U.S., the game served as a valuable test of their composure and ability to execute under duress, something they haven't frequently encountered in recent World Cup history. It underscores the importance of every possession and defensive stop, even for a team as dominant as the Americans.