Team USA: Defense leads domination of Italy

It hasn’t consistently been the most beautiful basketball, but Team USA is 3-0 at the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Italy failed to threaten Team USA, as the Americans’ defensive attentiveness and superior shotmaking steadily swelled their lead over the course of the contest, leading to a 93-59 win.

Five Americans finished in double figures, led by Kahleah Copper, whose off-the-bounce pop proved too much for the Italians. Copper finished with 15 points, while Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark both scored 12 points. Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young tallied 11 points each, as Gray also led the US with eight assists.

Gray, Young and Copper were joined in the starting group by Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hamby.

Throughout the game, US mostly opted for single-big lineups, with Hamby or Angel Reese paired with four guards and wings, an approach that resulted in Kiki Iriafen and Monique Billings seeing limited time. Although head coach Kara Lawson was no longer on the sidelines, headed back to Durham to join her Duke Blue Devils for Selection Sunday, she presumably influenced the strategies implemented by acting head coach Nate Tibbetts.

The starting guard and wing foursome of Gray, Young, Copper and Howard demonstrated the kind of defense that likely will please Lawson, flying around and stifling the Italians. Howard led the US with three of the team’s 12 steals. After the game, Gray praised her team’s defensive mindset:

We did a really good job with our defense, especially in the first quarter. I think we allowed 11 points in that first quarter, and so we were able to get out in transition, not play too many set plays, and that’s what you want. It starts with defense for us.

The second unit, centered around the three-guard look of Bueckers, Clark and Kelsey Plum, didn’t offer the same defensive upside, instead optimized for explosive offense. Although a bit uneven in the first half, the group found their groove as the game progressed.

Expect more rotational reorganization as Team USA has less than a 24-hour turnaround before meeting New Zealand at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday (truTV).

Who’s in, out and on the bubble for Berlin?

Can Brazil qualify for the World Cup?

From the qualifying tournament in Wuhan, Brazil is at risk of not finishing in the top three, and thus not earning a spot in September’s World Cup.

On Saturday, a 30-point and 12-rebound double-double from Damiris Dantas was not enough against Czechia, as the Brazilians fell 84-65. Kamilla Cardoso added a 15-point and 11-rebound double-double in the loss.

On Sunday, the Brazilians responded with a comeback win over Mali, erasing a 14-point deficit with a fourth-quarter surge to escape with a three-point win, 76-73. The Dantas-Cardoso tandem was, once again, at the core of the Brazilians’ success, both finishing with double-doubles. Dantas totaled 16 points and 12 boards, with Cardoso tallying 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The win vaulted Brazil into second place, at least temporarily, with six points. Czechia and China meet on Sunday (7:30 a.m. ET), with the winner set to overtake Brazil for second. With the aforementioned loss to Czechia on their ledger, Brazil’s matchup against China on Tuesday (7:30 a.m. ET) will be a must-win.

Elsewhere in Wuhan, Belgium continues to impress. The back-to-back EuroBasket champs got a 15-point and 10-rebound double-double from Kyara Linskens and matching 14-point efforts from Julie Allemand and Julie Vanloo, plus 10 points, six rebounds and five assists from Emma Meesseman, in their 81-50 win over Mali on Saturday. On Sunday, they dominated South Sudan, 102-64, behind an efficient 15 points from Meesseman and 12 points and nine assists from Allemand.

Canada is on course to qualify for the World Cup

The Australian Opals already punched their spot into the World Cup as winners of the Asia Cup, but still sit at the top of the standings in Istanbul.

Australia defeated Hungary 71-58 on Saturday, as Ezi Magbegor continued her excellent play with 14 points and five boards; Sami Whitcomb and Alanna Smith both scored 12 points. In contrast, it was a rough one for Dorka Juhász, struggling her way to a single point amongst the Aussies’ interior length.

Canada is in line to qualify, blowing by Argentina, 75-41, on Saturday. Aaliyah Edwards had her first loud game of the tournament, finishing with an 11-point and 15-rebound double-double. Canada sits in third place behind Türkiye, winners over Japan, 75-67, on Saturday. Both teams have five points, but Türkiye won the head-to-head matchup in the tournament opener.

On Sunday, Canada faces Japan (10:30 a.m. ET), while Türkiye meets Australia (1:30 p.m. ET).

France has punched their ticket to Berlin

In Lyon, a battle between possible European powers became an easy win for the home team, as France took the 85-63 win over Germany—a win that punched the French’s ticket to Berlin.

France ended this one immediately, leading 29-14 after the first. Janelle Salaün took her turn as France’s high scorer with 18 points, going a spotless 7-for-7 from the field, including 4-for-4 from 3. Gabby Williams added 14 points in the victory.

In third place, the Germans, as the hosts of September’s tournament, need not worry about qualification. In fourth place, Nigeria also has qualified for the World Cup as AfroBasket champions. Second-place Korea, winners over Columbia, 82-52, on Saturday, continue their qualification quest on Sunday against the Philippines (7:30 a.m. ET).

Spain will be at the World Cup in September

On Tuesday, Team USA will play a Spanish side that already has guaranteed their spot in World Cup, thanks to starting the tournament in San Juan 3-0 with comfortable wins over New Zealand, Senegal and Puerto Rico.

Megan Gustafson’s 15.3 points and 7.7 boards per game have led Spain, while 2026 WNBA Draft prospect Iyana Martin has contributed 12.3 points per game.

On Sunday, Spain plays Italy (5 p.m. ET), which, despite the loss to the US, remains in third place and in position to eventually earn their way to Berlin.

All games are available via streaming through Courtside 1891 or MAX.