Golden State Valkyries ahead Cecilia Zandalasini has attracted loads of damaging consideration on social media after her flop throughout Italy vs. USA on the 2026 FIBA World Cup.
Workforce USA picked up a slim 55-52 win over Italy to maintain their 20-year successful streak on the ladies’s World Cup alive.
Commercial
What ought to be remembered as a gutsy nationwide crew efficiency in opposition to the USA has as a substitute been marred by one play involving Zandalasini.
Workforce USA followers slam Cecilia Zandalasini throughout win over Italy
Zandalasini was on the perimeter whereas being guarded by Jackie Younger when she recoiled backwards mid-shot and grabbed her eye, and later argued with the referees for a foul.
With the clip not having context on the seconds earlier than this play, followers went in on Zandalasini, blaming the Valkyries’ type of basketball for her flopping.
“This was truly the worst flop try ever,” mentioned one fan.
Commercial
“Bluetooth — foul and he or she was crashing out afterwards,” mentioned one other fan in shock over the state of affairs.
“Straight from Natalie Nakase’s college of flopping. Exhibit 1000,” mentioned a fan blaming Valkyries’ head coach Natalie Nakase.
“The best way she would get this name with the valks,” mentioned one fan, implying WNBA referees would have given her the foul right here.
“WNBA refs woulda put all of the wind on earth in that whistle,” mentioned one other fan alongside the identical strains.
Some followers defending her mentioned that she was poked within the eye by one other participant’s hair earlier than the video began, however how her response modified from dribble to shot, and subsequent foul protests, implied that she positively believed a name was due there.
Commercial
Cecilia Zandalasini was Italy’s finest participant within the loss to Workforce USA
Zandalasini led all scorers with 14 factors (5-14 FG) within the sport. Because the nationwide crew’s featured star, she was the No. 1 focus of the USA’s protection as properly.
Picture by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto by way of Getty Photographs
The 30-year-old ahead is averaging 8.8 factors and a pair of.2 rebounds this season because the Valkyries sit No. 2 within the WNBA standings with a 29-11 document.
Her potential to stretch the ground, deal with the ball, and be a lead defender was put to the take a look at in opposition to the USA. Whereas she was inefficient offensively, she did all she might to make sure the crew was able to drag this historic upset off.
Commercial
Whereas followers may blame Zandalasini for her actions within the sport, they will quickly be watching her within the WNBA Playoffs on a crew with a shot on the title.
Learn extra:
