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· collected 2026-09-06 · by Doug Feinberg The Associated Press
The US women's basketball team led by Jackie Young secured a 55-52 win over Italy in their World Cup match on Sunday in Berlin. The victory marked the Americans' 33rd consecutive World Cup win, breaking a two-decade drought since a loss to Russia in 2006. Despite struggling with a low point total of 55, the US team managed to overcome Italy's 2-3 zone defense and closed out the game on a crucial 7-0 run. Cecilia Zandalasini led Italy with 14 points, but her last-second three-pointer attempt missed the mark.
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 6058 · logged 2026-09-07
BERLIN (AP) — Jackie Young scored 10 points and the U.S. survived its toughest test in the women’s basketball World Cup in two decades with a 55-52 victory over Italy on Sunday.
asserted
U.S. → score → Sunday
The U.S. has won 32 straight World Cup games dating back to a loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals.
asserted
U.S. → win → semifinals
Only one team had come within single digits of the Americans during this run, when Australia lost by eight points in 2010.
asserted
Australia → come → 2010
The Americans (2-0) had to work hard for the victory, putting up the lowest point total in a preliminary-round game since 1971, when they had 51 against France.
asserted
they → have → France
The U.S. trailed 50-48 with 4:29 left before going on a 7-0 run.
asserted
U.S. → trail → run
Breanna Stewart, who missed her first eight shots, scored her first basket of the game to put the Americans up 51-50.
asserted
who → miss → Americans
Young then hit a layup after the U.S. got an offensive foul against Italy on its next possession.
asserted
U.S. → hit → possession
The Americans got another defensive stop and Chelsea Gray hit a jumper to make it a five-point game.
asserted
it → get → jumper
Matilde Villa scored to get Italy back within three with less than a minute to go.
asserted
Italy → score → minute
The U.S. had a couple of chances to make it a two-possession lead but couldn’t convert.
asserted
it → have → chances
Italy (1-1) had one last chance to tie it, but Cecilia Zandalasini’s 3-pointer was off at the buzzer.
asserted
pointer → have → buzzer
Italy’s 2-3 zone defense cause the U.S. fits on offense.
asserted
U.S. → cause → offense
The Americans couldn’t get into any rhythm and shot 29% from the field, including going 1 for 12 from 3-point range.
asserted
Americans → get → range
The Americans, who led 30-24 at halftime, saw Italy go on a 11-2 run to start the third quarter and trailed 35-32 before finishing the period up 42-39.
asserted
Italy → lead → period
Italy, which lost to the Americans by 34 in a tournament qualifier in March, wouldn’t go away and was up 50-48 in the fourth quarter before the Americans’ final push.
asserted
which → lose → push
Zandalasini scored 14 points to lead Italy, which is making its first World Cup appearance since 1994.
asserted
which → score → 1994
The Italians won their first game, beating the Czech Republic, and had a loud crowd cheering for them against the U.S.
asserted
crowd → win → U.S.
In other games on Sunday, China edged the Czech Republic in overtime, Australia topped Turkey and Belgium beat Puerto Rico.
asserted
Belgium → edge → Rico
Up next
Italy faces China to close out pool play Monday.
asserted
Italy → face → play
The U.S, plays the Czech Republic on Monday hoping to keep its winning streak going.
asserted
U.S → play → streak
