USA Takes Lead in World Cup with Exceptional Defensive Show, 3-0

Chelsea Gray. | FIBA via Getty Images 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.

This is the standard. 🇺🇸 #USABWNT x #FIBAWWC pic. twitter.

com/Yq0uBTl6cD — USA Basketball (@usabasketball) March 14, 2026 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.