The United States women's basketball team secured a gritty 55‑52 victory over Italy in the Women's Basketball World Cup, ending a 20‑year stretch of relatively easy competition and showcasing the growing challenge posed by opponents catching up to their dominance.
Despite shooting just 29 percent from the field and a dismal 1‑for‑12 from three‑point range, the Americans rallied late, producing a decisive 7‑0 run that turned a 50‑48 deficit into a five‑point lead, a surge fueled by Breanna Stewart’s first basket of the game and Chelsea Gray’s timely jumper.
Paige Bueckers contributed seven points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks, while Jackie Young added 10 points, both playing crucial roles as the team withstood Italy’s strong push, highlighted by Cecilia Zandalasini’s 14 points and a missed final buzzer‑beating attempt that would have forced a tie.
A Test of Depth and Resilience
The win extends the United States’ unbeaten streak to 32 straight World Cup games since 2006, a record that has been tested only once before when Australia kept the margin under ten points in 2010, and the team now turns its focus to Monday’s pool‑play showdown against the Czech Republic.