Aliyah Boston is taking part in in her first World Cup, and Saturday’s 76-66 semifinal win over Spain reminded her of an NCAA Remaining 4.
“While you’re in a event like this, it does not at all times must be fairly. You simply have to return out with the win,” Boston mentioned. “For us, it is about not hanging our heads. I believe we did a terrific job with our rotations. Everybody got here in, gave power, gave nice minutes, scored the ball. It is about ensuring that when your title known as, you are able to go.”
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Half of Workforce USA Is Making Its World Cup Debut
Half of the 12-player American roster is making a world championship debut in Berlin. Sue Fowl, the nationwide crew managing director, introduced the group in August.
“Sporting a USA jersey is a privilege, and I do know these 12 gamers will embrace that accountability as we go after one other gold medal,” Fowl mentioned on the time.
The roster modified the Monday earlier than the event. A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum have been dominated out for well being causes, and Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, teammates with the Washington Mystics, have been added of their place. Citron and Iriafen are the youngest gamers within the group. Each have been on the 2022 crew that gained the World Cup in Sydney. Becky Hammon has pushed again on the criticism of Wilson’s absence.
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Boston, Angel Reese, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart carry the frontcourt with out Wilson. Stewart and Chelsea Grey are essentially the most skilled World Cup gamers on the roster. Stewart is at her fourth.
Citron made her senior nationwide crew debut in Berlin after a second straight WNBA All-Star choice. Iriafen had performed for the US on the World Cup qualifying event in Puerto Rico in March. The People went 5-0 there. Caitlin Clark was named MVP after averaging 11.6 factors and a tournament-best 6.4 assists.
Spain Pushes Workforce USA Into the Fourth Quarter
Spain opened Saturday with a 9-1 run, the most important deficit the People confronted in Berlin, and saved fouling all through the primary half. The People have been tied at 58 by means of three quarters earlier than pulling away.
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Stewart led the People with 16 factors and 6 rebounds on 4-of-6 capturing, and Kahleah Copper scored 13. Napheesa Collier had 19 in the quarterfinal win over Hungary. Caitlin Clark has come off the bench by means of the knockout rounds.
The People opened group play in opposition to China on Sept. 4, then beat Italy and Czechia, the latter by 41 factors. They’ve gained 35 straight World Cup video games, relationship to a semifinal loss to Russia in 2006. Yet another places a fifth consecutive title on the board. A complete of 51 WNBA gamers are at this World Cup, near 1 / 4 of the league.
Workforce USA Meets France for Gold
United States coach Kara Lawson is the top coach at Duke and gained Olympic gold as a participant in 2008. She was an assistant on the 2022 crew that gained the World Cup in Sydney.
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France awaits within the closing after beating host Germany 86-64. The 2 met within the Paris 2024 gold medal recreation, which the US gained 67-66.
Tip-off is 2 p.m. ET Sunday at Berlin Area. The WNBA season resumes Sept. 17.
