Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark connection tops USA vs Hungary winners and losers

Published On: September 11, 2026

Up to date Sept. 10, 2026, 8:14 p.m. ET

Staff USA punched its ticket to the FIBA Girls’s World Cup semifinal spherical in convincing vogue.

The People dismantled Hungary in a 108-56 quarterfinal blowout win in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday, Sept. 10, the place they led for all however 19 seconds to increase their World Cup win streak to 34 straight video games. It was USA’s largest margin of victory within the match to this point, with each USA participant scoring for the third time.

“That is considered one of our most compete performances,” USA head coach Kara Lawson stated.

The People transfer on to face Spain within the semifinals at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 12.

The purple, white and blue victory was so full it was onerous to slim down an inventory of winners. Hungary headlines Thursday’s losers after arising brief within the semifinals.

USA TODAY Sports activities rounded up the highlights and lowlights from Thursday’s quarterfinal match between USA and Hungary:

Winners

USA ahead Napheesa Collier

After the American’s scare in opposition to Italy within the preliminary spherical, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart stated it was their duty as veterans to get Staff USA, made up of seven newcomers, off to a very good begin.

“Clearly we’re two of the older individuals on the group… we’ve got to have the ability to set the tone and set an instance,” Collier stated on Monday. That’s precisely what she did Thursday’s quarterfinal recreation in opposition to Hungary.

Collier got here out aggressive with 10 factors, three rebounds and one block within the first quarter. She rejected Minnesota Lynx teammate Dorka Juhasz’s shot. By the third quarter, Collier improved her stat line to 19 factors and 7 rebounds whereas capturing 9-of-13 from the sphere and 1-of-2 from the 3-point line. And after quarter-hour of play, her job was finished.

It was Collier’s highest-scoring recreation in a Staff USA jersey, together with the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, the place Collier helped the People win gold.

Collier began enjoying once more in July after present process offseason surgical procedure on each ankles.

The Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese connection

The school rivals-turned-teammates had been a two-woman present on Thursday. Clark discovered Reese beneath the basket early and infrequently and Reese discovered the underside of the web in Thursday’s win. Clark assisted on six of Reese’s 9 factors and Reese returned the favor. Reese secured a steal and set Clark up for a transition layup within the third quarter.

“We have performed in opposition to one another so many instances. I am positive we all know one another’s recreation just like the again of one another’s hand,” Reese stated after the win. “Simply simply dishing it off to her. She dishes off to me. She is aware of my spots. I kinda acquired one to her as we speak, possibly two. So it is enjoyable. We simply proceed to construct chemistry as a result of we all know we’re gonna be USA teammates for some time.”

Clark completed with 10 factors and 9 assists, only one help shy of her second double-double of the match. Reese had 9 factors, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.

USA units help report

Staff USA’s chemistry is constructing, as evidenced by the group’s record-breaking efficiency. The People collectively tallied 31 assists on 40-made discipline targets of their win over Hungary, which set a report for probably the most assists in a World Cup quarterfinal match.

“Having (31) assists actually speaks to the sport, the way in which that we’re shifting the ball,” Collier stated. “It isn’t one-on-one basketball. We’re enjoying as a group. A number of persons are getting touches. We’re discovering the most effective shot, not only a good shot. And in order that displays that.

“Every recreation, once more, we’re enhancing with that, simply getting our chemistry. This group has by no means performed along with this group of individuals. And so typically it takes some time to come back collectively, however we’re profiting from every apply, every recreation that we’ve got and getting higher.”

USA’s 3-point capturing

Bear in mind when USA went 1-of-12 from the 3-point line in its 55-52 win over Italy on Monday? Properly, the People exercised these demons and shot a staggering 12-of-23 from past the arc on Thursday.

Aliyah Boston confirmed her vary early, flattening back-to-back 3s within the first quarter to assist construct USA’s lead. Rhyne Howard, who leads the WNBA in made 3-pointers this season, had the recent hand within the second half. She completed capturing 3-of-5 from deep. Howard was considered one of 4 gamers to make at the least two 3-pointers.

Losers

The unceremonious finish to Hungary’s dream run

It’s a bit unhappy to think about the hopeful Hungary followers who tuned into Thursday’s matchup with the thrill of what had been a incredible run.

This was Hungary’s first World Cup look since 1998, and their first time within the match’s last eight since 1986.

When nineteenth ranked Hungary by no means trailed in its win over world No. 10 Japan 84–63 on Tuesday, there was cause to imagine the unlikely run might proceed — particularly since Staff USA confirmed cracks in its slim win over Italy.

That optimism was shortly crushed, as unbeaten Staff USA was so dominant the sport acquired out of hand shortly. The U.S. led by as many as 32 factors within the first half as they scored at will and held Hungary to 32% capturing from the sphere.

Staff USA beginning lineup doubters

Staff USA coach Kara Lawson obtained her share of criticism for sticking together with her beginning lineup of veterans all through the group stage. Towards Hungary, these detractors had been left with nothing to lament.

When requested getting into Thursday’s matchup if she’d think about beginning World Cup debutant Caitlin Clark, Lawson was agency in saying she believed her opening group had “finished a extremely good job.”

When pushed with a follow-up about whether or not she’d put fellow newcomers Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers within the opening rotation, Lawson began agency and repeated a part of her earlier reply: “I like the place we’re proper now.”

Starters Chelsea Grey, Jackie Younger, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart didn’t disappoint, getting the U.S. off to a 36-12 lead by the tip of the primary quarter on 74% capturing from the sphere and 3-of-3 capturing from deep.

Followers of the Younger and Turnt crew had been nonetheless fed from begin to end. Clark related with Reese forward of the buzzer within the first body, and that chemistry continued all through as each single Staff USA participant scored within the blowout, which resulted within the largest margin of victory on this World Cup for the U.S.

Hungary’s submit play

Hungary had bother getting any offense going inside regardless of to submit play of 6-foot-5 ahead Dorka Juhasz and 6-4 middle Virag Takacs-Kiss. The pair had been held to 2 factors every and Staff USA outscored Hungary 52-16 within the paint.

“They’re each glorious gamers, they usually did possibly miss some leap pictures that they usually make, particularly Dorka, I assumed, had some high quality seems in that first half, they usually simply did not go down,” USA coach Kara Lawson stated. “However I felt like we had been actually assured in our recreation plan, and Napheesa (Collier) and (Breanna Stewart) did a very good job defensively. Aliyah (Boston) and Angel (Reese) once they got here in, Kiki (Iriafen) as properly.

“We had been in a position to rotate, you recognize, we’ve got 5 forwards that every one deliver one thing totally different to the desk and convey an athleticism.”

Each basketball fan who woke as much as watch USA vs Hungary

In the event you awakened at 5:30 a.m. ET to observe the US hoop in opposition to Hungary, congratulations, you are the actual MVP. That degree of dedication must be studied. Watching basketball earlier than 8 a.m. native time feels prefer it needs to be unlawful. All of us want a nap.

In truth, this possible seems like complaining to the individuals who stay abroad and do that often to observe their favourite groups. Please permit us three enterprise days to get all our grievances out of our programs. We’re not used to this sort of stress. Please respect our privateness as we cope.