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· collected 2026-09-06 · by Doug Feinberg The Associated Press
The US women's basketball team won their second World Cup game against Italy 55-52 on Sunday. Key statistics from the game include the US scoring only 10 points led by Jackie Young, and shooting just 29% from the field. The article attributes the US win to a late surge led by timely baskets and a key defensive play by Chelsea Gray. US coach Kara Lawson said the team's ability to adapt and win in different styles is crucial in this tournament, where every game feels like a "dogfight".
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.
BERLIN (AP) — The United States faced its stiffest challenge in nearly two decades in the women’s FIBA World Cup and escaped with a win over Italy thanks to a few timely baskets late and a key defensive play by Chelsea Gray.
asserted
States → face → Gray
Jackie Young scored 10 points to lead the struggling offense in the 55-52 win on Sunday.
asserted
Young → score → Sunday
It was the fewest points the Americans had scored in a World Cup win since they beat Australia 42-38 in 1967.
asserted
they → score → 1967
“You have to be able to win different ways in this tournament because every team stylistically plays a little bit different,” U.S. coach Kara Lawson said.
asserted
Lawson → have → tournament
“You do have to be able to win when you don’t have your fastball.
asserted
you → have → fastball
We didn’t have a fastball tonight, but we figured it out late and we’ll grow from it.”
asserted
we → have → it
The U.S. (2-0) has won 32 straight World Cup games dating 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 before Sunday, when Australia lost by eight points in 2010.
asserted
Australia → come → 2010
“Obviously, Italy really kind of mucked up the game for us a little bit,” Breanna Stewart said.
asserted
Stewart → muck → us
“It made it difficult for us to score.
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us → make → ?
Tons of respect to what they’ve done.
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they → do → what
The world has been closing the gap on the U.S.
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world → close → U.S.
The Americans pulled off their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal in 2024, edging France by one point in the title game.
asserted
Americans → pull → game
“We’ve seen that through the tournament that every game feels like a dogfight,” Lawson said.
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Lawson → see → dogfight
“It’s really hard.
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It → ’ → ?
On any given night, if you’re not prepared to play, you’ll lose.
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you → ’re → night
That’s awesome for our sport.”
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That → ’ → sport
The U.S. trailed 50-48 with 4:29 left before going on a 7-0 run.
asserted
U.S. → trail → run
Stewart, who missed her first eight shots, scored her first basket of the game to put the Americans up 51-50.
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who → miss → Americans
Young then hit a layup after Gray drew that offensive foul with 3:03 left.
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Gray → hit → 3:03
“I thought that late charge Chelsea took was a big momentum changing play,” Lawson said.
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Lawson → think → ?
Gray’s jumper with 1:07 left made it a five-point game.
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it → leave → 1:07
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 caused the U.S. fits.
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defense → cause → fits
The Americans couldn’t get into any rhythm and shot 29% from the field, including 1 for 12 from 3-point range.
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Americans → get → range
They missed a ton of layups too.
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They → miss → layups
“I think we missed some shots.
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we → think → shots
We missed some layups, some shots that we have made in the past,” Gray said.
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Gray → miss → past
The Americans were up early, leading 23-8 in what looked to be another blowout victory.
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what → lead → ?
Italy then switched to a zone defense and went on a 16-7 spurt to close the half down 30-24.
asserted
Italy → switch → half
The Italians kept it going in the third quarter with an 11-2 run to go up 35-32.
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it → keep → run
The Americans led 42-39 heading into the fourth.
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Americans → lead → fourth
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.
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which → lose → push
Zandalasini scored 14 points to lead Italy, which is making its first World Cup appearance since 1994.
asserted
which → score → 1994
She apologized after the game for emotion she showed at the buzzer toward an official at the lack of a foul call.
asserted
she → apologize → call
“I would like to apologize for how I reacted in the end,” Zandalasini said.
asserted
Zandalasini → like → end
“It was a lot of emotions today, but I should have kept them inside of me a little better.”
asserted
I → keep → me
In other games on Sunday, China edged the Czech Republic in overtime, Australia topped Turkey and Belgium beat Puerto Rico.
asserted
Belgium → edge → Rico
