After a nail-biting win over Italy, Group USA responded convincingly in its last World Cup group stage sport a day later, defeating Czechia 105-64. The victory Monday in Berlin clinched first place in Group D for the People, permitting them to bypass the qualification for the quarterfinals. They await the winner of Hungary versus Japan within the last eight Thursday.
Group USA’s offense was a lot cleaner than it was in a 55-52 win towards Italy. The four-time defending World Cup champs exceeded their whole rating from Sunday with 57 first-half factors towards Czechia, they usually completed the sport taking pictures 52 p.c from the sector. In opposition to the Czech protection that suffocated the paint and sprinkled in occasional zone protection, the 3-ball opened issues for the People. Breanna Stewart hit their first triple inside the first minute, and Group USA had seven on the day.
Stewart set the tone in some ways within the first quarter. She rebounded from a tough taking pictures outing within the second group stage contest by hitting 8 of 11 subject objectives and scoring 19 factors. She additionally posted six assists with zero turnovers and spearheaded the People’ transition offense together with her rim-running.
“I wished to come back out and actually lead this crew in numerous methods,” Stewart mentioned on the printed postgame. “Wished to make it possible for at present we actually took issues into our personal arms and actually lead by instance.”
Group USA’s off-ball motion was considerably improved towards the zone, notably with the perimeter crew of Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard. In a single three-possession sequence, Howared discovered Bueckers on a backdoor baseline lower. Then Bueckers lower into the excessive put up whereas Stewart was operating the offense to get an uncontested midrange jumper. The Dallas Wings star adopted that by diming up Angel Reese inside, and Reese was fouled for 2 free throws.
That is the trio’s first time representing Group USA on the senior degree, however the group received a gold medal along with Aliyah Boston in 2019 on the U-19 World Cup. Their bench minutes collectively have demonstrated that chemistry.
Howard’s protection was crucial to Group USA creating separation early. The WNBA’s steals chief had 5 takeaways, permitting the People to get out within the open ground. Howard’s main worldwide expertise has are available in 3×3, however she has been a extra pure slot in five-on-five, appearing as a combo ahead with some wanted measurement and spacing.
Czechia by no means really threatened after halftime, enabling coach Kara Lawson to play reserves for many of the last 20 minutes. Each member of Group USA scored whereas taking part in a minimum of 10 minutes.
The People saved the identical beginning lineup by means of all three group video games, leaning on the expertise of the 5 rostered gamers who’ve beforehand received gold in a World Cup or Olympics (Stewart, Chelsea Grey, Kahleah Copper, Jackie Younger and Napheesa Collier). The younger reserves have began to claim themselves in pockets, and that continued towards Czechia.
Bueckers was comfy discovering her spots, ending with 10 factors on 5-of-8 taking pictures and 5 assists. Group USA was a team-high plus-27 in her 19 minutes. Clark had a team-best seven assists to 2 turnovers and ended the sport with extra factors than field-goal makes an attempt although her 3-point jumper continued to elude her.
Boston wasn’t wanted as a lot towards Czechia as she was towards Italy due to the sport’s quicker tempo, however Reese made her mark defending on the perimeter and Kiki Iriafen was dominant on the glass, accumulating 11 boards in her 14 minutes.
