Team USA beat China quite handily in their first World Cup game, winning 94-61. Their latest game against Italy on Sunday, however, pushed the US side to its limit.
Both teams seemed fairly allergic to the net, with the score 30-24 at halftime. The USA scored merely 11 points in the second quarter, and at the 5:32 mark of the third quarter, Italy took a 33-32 lead.
The USA did come out on top, winning their second straight game in group play, edging Italy out 55-52. WNBA and women’s basketball fans, however, took notice of how much the USA struggled during the game and weren’t all too kind to them on social media.
Team USA’s Lackluster Performance Against Italy In Group D Riles Up WNBA Fans
USA’s leading scorer was Jackie Young, who dropped 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field. She was the only player on the team to score in double digits.
Kara Lawson started Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart, but four of the five struggled with their shooting.
Aside from Young, the aforementioned four stars went 2-for-11 from the field in the first half and finished the game with 21 points on 5-for-23 FG.
The WNBA world was shocked by how Italy nearly upset the No. 1-ranked Team USA.
“This is the worst USA has ever played. Feels like they’re not even trying, not even wanting to win,” one fan said on X.
This is the worst USA has ever played. Feels like they’re not even trying not even wanting to win
— Janne 💜💛 | McCarthy Season (@Janne1945_) September 6, 2026
Another fan heavily implied that this display of mediocrity wouldn’t have happened if A’ja Wilson, the current frontrunner for the WNBA regular-season MVP, was playing. They said, “And people still think A’ja isn’t the best player in the WNBA,” which was followed up with a slew of crying-laughing emojis.
Another X user said, “This is shameful. America needs to do much better.”
This is shameful. America needs to do much better.
— Andy froemel (@FroemelAndy) September 6, 2026
While Team USA did end up with the win, the team looked disjointed on both ends of the floor, racking up a subpar 11 assists on the night.
“Not playing as a team, looks ridiculous,” another disappointed fan said.
Not playing as a team, looks ridiculous.
— Taurus Red (@Taurus_Red5) September 6, 2026
The second quarter was especially egregious, with them repeatedly missing on defensive coverage and allowing Cecilia Zandalasini to get into a rhythm and score 9 points.
Caitlin Clark, after scoring a team-high 14 points (tied with Paige Bueckers and Rhyne Howard) in the USA’s win against China, had just 1 point tonight. She missed all 6 of her attempted field goals and sank a single free throw.
The charity stripe is where Team USA gained the upper hand, going 22-for-30. Italy went 14-for-20, and it was their inability to contain drives into the lane that led to the crucial plus-8 free-throw disparity.
After the hard-fought win, head coach Lawson took pride in the win. She said:
“Sometimes it’s good to be tested like this. You see where your weaknesses are, and we know exactly where we need to improve.”
Kara Lawson tells @ALaForce USAB’s battle with Italy will only make them better 💪#FIBAWWC | @FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/PD1uCLLl8D
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) September 6, 2026
Lawson has consistently been a defensively minded coach, which would explain her wanting to bring Bueckers and Clark off the bench two games in a row.
However, with her veteran-dominant lineups struggling to get going, she may have to adopt a faster-paced offense going forward.
