The USA Women's Basketball team edged Italy 55-52 in a tightly contested match at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, improving their Group D record to 2-0 and keeping their quarterfinal hopes firmly alive.
Italy entered the game after a sluggish start, struggling to find rhythm early on, but mounted a spirited comeback that forced the Americans to rely on tight defense and clutch shooting to preserve their lead.
With the victory, the United States improved to a perfect two‑game stretch in the tournament, a remarkable turnaround after a long drought of World Cup losses, and now sit atop Group D, poised to advance to the knockout rounds.
Jackie Young was recognized as the TCL Player of the Game, contributing 10 points and showcasing the poise that helped steer the USA through a contested match.
While USA's offense was efficient, Italy's tactical approach, anchored by strong defense and cohesive teamwork, limited their opponents' scoring chances, marking the lowest World Cup point total for the Italians since 1984. Cecilia Zandalasini led the Italian effort with a game‑high 14 points, but her missed three‑point attempt in the final seconds epitomized the narrow margin that decided the game.
Quarterfinal Outlook
Standing at 2-0, the USA women are positioned to face the runner‑up of Group C in the quarterfinals, a matchup that could further test their newly forged momentum as they aim to make a deep run in the tournament.