BERLIN — The United States women’s basketball team relied on resilience to secure a narrow 55-52 victory over Italy at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, overcoming a rare offensive struggle in Berlin.
The Americans managed just 42 points through the opening three quarters, which stands as the second-best defensive mark achieved against the United States in Women’s World Cup history. The tight contest tested the powerhouse program, which faces rapid turnarounds between tournament fixtures.
Speaking after the game, head coach Kara Lawson stressed the importance of confronting subpar outings directly rather than searching for justifications.
“When you have a performance that’s below your level, don’t try to excuse away what happened,” Lawson said. “Just be honest with what you’re seeing, and then go back to work to improve.”
Lawson noted that the federation’s extensive record of championship success can sometimes obscure the difficulty of each individual victory.
“It is so hard to win in the World Cup,” Lawson said. “And I know our history is so accomplished at our federation, and I know we all know the expectation is for us to win. But every single one of those wins came hard, and every one at this tournament comes hard. And we understand that.”
The challenge has been heightened by the growth of women’s basketball globally, as an increasing number of international players compete across top leagues worldwide, narrowing the competitive gap on the court.
“You have to have great respect for who you play; you have to prepare in a way to win,” Lawson added.
With the tournament underway, Lawson stated that the squad’s objective is to build momentum and adapt after each test.
“We talked about the start of the tournament, and for us, we wanna be the most improved team through this tournament. From when it starts to when it ends,” Lawson said. “It’s clear we’ve got some improvements to make, so we’ll just go back to work and try to put a better performance on tomorrow.”
Lawson emphasized that perseverance remains the defining factor for any team aiming to capture a gold medal.
“The teams that can persevere through that and have a resilient mindset are the ones that are able to win. That’s what it takes,” Lawson said. “That’s why, if you’re fortunate enough at the end of the tournament to be the winner, that’s why it’s so satisfying. That’s why it’s so exhilarating. That’s why you celebrate the way you do, because this thing’s not easy.”
Source: fiba.basketball — https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-womens-basketball-world-cup-2026/news/team-usas-winning-culture-is-built-in-the-hard-moments
