Team USA women's basketball team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup after defeating Italy in a close match. The 55-point performance was Team USA’s lowest-scoring World Cup game since 1971. It took place in Berlin and featured a tense final stretch where Italy had a last chance to tie the game. Italy’s Cecilia Zandalasini missed a three-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the match into overtime.
The Americans managed to hold on for a narrow 55-52 win after a difficult final stretch, according to CBS Sports. Breanna Stewart, who had missed her first eight shots of the game, scored the first basket of the final period to put Team USA ahead by one point, according to a report from ESPN. Stewart said that Italy made it hard for the Americans to score and that she was proud of how her team responded under pressure.
Despite a slow offensive start, Team USA’s defense helped keep the game close and allowed them to secure the victory. The team shot just 29% from the field and made only one of twelve three-point attempts. They had 14 turnovers compared with 16 made field goals during the match.
Italy’s shooting efficiency was slightly better at 31% but they turned the ball over 18 times. Team USA coach Kara Lawson praised the team's defensive efforts in the final minutes of play. She highlighted a key charge call that shifted momentum and another crucial stop by Chelsea Gray. Lawson said the team was able to prevent Italy from getting good looks at the basket when they were ahead by three points.
The win extended Team USA’s World Cup winning streak to 32 games, their last loss coming in the 2006 semifinals against Russia. With this victory, Team USA officially qualified for the quarterfinals and will face a team yet to be determined. They are guaranteed to be on the opposite side of the bracket from France, meaning the two top favorites won’t meet until the final on September 13.
The Americans will play their next group stage game against Czechia on Monday. That match is now effectively an exhibition since the outcome no longer impacts their advancement. Still, it will be important for Team USA to build chemistry ahead of the knockout rounds.
Italy’s Zandalasini later apologized for her behavior at the end of the game. She said she was upset about a call that happened earlier in the final possession and admitted to acting out. She also expressed frustration over another call where she thought she had earned an and-one opportunity.
The game was a test for the new-look Team USA squad, who were not expected to face such a challenge so early in the tournament. Despite the low-scoring nature of the match and limited offensive production, the team’s resilience paid off.
Team USA has now secured its place in the knockout stage of the World Cup.