Team USA Women’s Basketball Advances to FIBA World Cup Semifinals

Coach Lawson Addresses Opinions

Team USA women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson ignored external opinions after a dominant 108-56 win against Hungary in the FIBA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal. In a press conference, Lawson was questioned about a power ranking, which she admitted being unaware of, but acknowledged the rankings that favored France due to their strong performance in group play.

“This is a big tournament, this is the World Cup, and it’s okay for people to have opinions on who they think is going to win and who they think is going to lose and who they’re cheering for and who they’re going to boo. That’s a competition, I think that’s why we love sport, it’s why it’s so exciting,” Lawson said.

Lawson emphasized that the team focuses on itself rather than external opinions. She noted that worrying about judgments does not impact the team’s capabilities and is merely someone’s perspective.

France and Team USA Rankings

France moved ahead of the United States in FIBA’s final Smart Power Rankings after group stages. The U.S. team had dropped to second following a narrow 55-52 victory over Italy, marking their lowest-scoring World Cup game since the 3-point line’s introduction in 1984. FIBA described the Americans’ on-court connections as a “work in progress.” Despite this, France was recognized for its strong World Cup performance.

France maintained their momentum with a decisive 90-61 victory over China. They remain on the opposite bracket side from Team USA, setting up a potential championship clash if both teams advance.

Lineup Concerns and Strong Performance

Lawson did not address concerns regarding the starting lineup post-victory. Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese continued to play off the bench, while Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart started. Despite fan frustration over the lineup, the strategy proved effective against Hungary.

The U.S. team scored 36 points in the first quarter and had a 59-30 halftime lead. The Americans shot 59% overall, making 12 of 23 3-point attempts, and recorded 31 assists on 40 baskets. They set a quarterfinal record with 108 points and became the first team to achieve over 30 assists at this stage, according to FIBA. Collier excelled with 19 points and six rebounds. Every player on the U.S. roster scored, with five finishing in double figures.

Clark narrowly missed a double-double, contributing 10 points and nine assists. Reese added nine points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Bueckers had seven points and three assists.

Semi-Finals and Team Achievements

Team USA extended its World Cup winning streak to 34 games, with their last loss occurring in 2006 against Russia. The United States awaits the semifinal outcome between Australia and Spain to determine their next opponent. Lawson’s team is two victories away from the fifth consecutive World Cup championship.