The U.S. women's basketball team won a 55-52 game against Italy at the FIBA World Cup in Berlin, avoiding what would have been their first loss in such a tournament since 2006. The key number is that the Americans trailed by two points with under five minutes left to play before making a late surge. This article reports on the surprising tightness of the game, given that the US has historically dominated international competition and had previously won by large margins, including a 34-point win over Italy just months ago. The author suggests that this close call will embolden other teams in future competitions.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A fire alarm went off at 2am in the hotel where many teams were staying for the Women's Basketball World Cup, forcing an evacuation before players could return to their rooms about an hour later.
The alarm was caused by someone pushing a button in the elevator, and no actual fire was present. Australia coach Sandy Brondello noted that it was "a what-if situation" but also a chance for teams to prepare for unexpected events.
Meanwhile, in a separate game at the World Cup, Team USA faced a tough challenge from Italy, ultimately winning 55-52 after trailing by two points with just over three minutes remaining.
The win marked the 32nd consecutive World Cup victory for the US team, dating back to a loss to Russia in 2006. However, this game was one of the closest in recent history, with Italy coming within single digits of the Americans' total.
In the same game, Italy's Cecilia Zandalasini had a chance to tie the score but missed a three-pointer at the buzzer, and later expressed contrition for her behavior towards the referees after the game.
The US team struggled with poor shooting, making only 29% of their field goals overall and just 1-12 from beyond the arc, but managed to pull out the win thanks to timely baskets and a key defensive play by Chelsea Gray.
Written for “US Women's Basketball at World Cup” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 6014 · logged 2026-09-07
The U.S. women’s basketball team verged on disaster Sunday afternoon in a way it rarely has in its history.
asserted
it → verge → history
A program that rarely wins by single digits was pushed to its absolute limit by Italy in the women’s FIBA World Cup, trailing with less than five minutes to go before escaping Berlin’s Uber Arena with a 55-52 win that allows them to avoid historical ignominy and move onto the quarterfinals.
asserted
them → win → quarterfinals
Down 50-48 with 4:48 left, buckets by four different players — Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray — gave the Americans a 7-0 run and five-point lead that ultimately proved decisive.
asserted
that → leave → run
Down three with under 30 seconds to go, the possession arrow went to Italy off a jump ball with a chance to tie.
asserted
arrow → go → chance
Cecilia Zandalasini had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer, but missed after taking contact she felt should have resulted in a foul.
asserted
she → have → foul
The Americans beat Italy by 34 points in a qualifier back in March.
asserted
Americans → beat → March
The US has won gold in every Olympics and World Cup since 2006, and before that, since 1994.
asserted
US → win → 1994
It has not lost a FIBA World Cup game since September 21, 2006, against Russia — its only loss in an Olympics or FIBA World Cup game since 1994.
asserted
It → lose → 1994
While A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum aren’t in Germany, pulling out last week due to health issues, the American roster is nonetheless stacked with All-Star talent: Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston are all coming off the bench for Kara Lawson’s side.
asserted
Bueckers → pull → side
Accordingly, the US blew past China 94-61 to open the tournament, and led Italy 23-8 early in the second quarter before things started to slip.
asserted
things → blow → quarter
While the Americans never outright struggled defensively, it was a different story with the ball in their hands.
asserted
it → struggle → hands
They didn’t make a 3-pointer until Bueckers sunk one with 1:49 to go in the third.
asserted
Bueckers → make → third
They turned the ball over and struggled to finish through contact.
asserted
They → turn → contact
They looked surprised that Italy could hang, and responded by tightening up.
uncertain
Italy → look → ?
All of a sudden, Italy was leading.
asserted
Italy → lead → ?
And the US was in a dogfight it wasn’t expecting, wasn’t ready for and could hardly survive.
uncertain
it → expect → dogfight
On this star-studded roster, no player reached double-digit points until Jackie Young with less than three minutes left.
asserted
player → reach → minutes
Breanna Stewart missed eight consecutive field goals before finally sinking one with just over three minutes to go; Clark missed all six of her shots and as a team, the US shot an abysmal 29 percent from the field.
Young’s 10 points ultimately led the US and Stewart, who finished with five points, led the Americans with 10 rebounds.
asserted
who → miss → rebounds
Zandalasini’s 14 points led Italy.
asserted
points → lead → Italy
While the US secured its passage out of the group stage with a win, this result will boost the hopes of everyone else nonetheless.
asserted
result → secure → everyone
