Staff USA cruised into the semifinals of the 2026 FIBA Ladies’s World Cup with a historic 108-56 victory over Hungary within the quarterfinals on Thursday. The 108 factors have been probably the most ever scored in a quarterfinal sport on the World Cup, and tied for the second-most ever scored in a knockout-round sport. Moreover, Staff USA’s 31 assists have been a report for a quarterfinal sport.  

Subsequent up for the Individuals, who’ve now gained 34 consecutive video games on the World Cup, would be the winner of Spain and Australia. Their quarterfinal matchup is ready for two:45 p.m. ET on Thursday. 

After surviving a significant scare from Italy within the second sport of the match, Staff USA has been completely dominant, and their efficiency towards Hungary was nearly as good because it will get. They shot 60% from the sector, knocked down 12 3-pointers, outscored Hungary 52-16 within the paint, dished out 31 assists and have been so locked in defensively that Hungary had extra turnovers (27) than made photographs (22). 

“This was one in all our most full performances of the match,” Staff USA coach Kara Lawson stated. “Defensively we have been energetic, compelled plenty of turnovers, was actually happy by that. After which offensively, we as coaches love after they share the ball they usually did that at a excessive stage… Happy to be shifting on and excited to search out out later who our matchup will probably be.”

Staff USA is now two wins away from a fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal, which might tie the Soviet Union’s report of 5 consecutive golds from 1959-1975. Because the Individuals put together for Saturday’s semifinal, listed below are some key takeaways from an enormous win over Hungary. 

Collier leads the way in which

Napheesa Collier, who solely returned from offseason surgical procedure on each ankles in late July, acquired off to a gradual begin in Berlin and managed simply 10 factors on 13 photographs within the first two video games towards China and Italy. However within the group stage finale towards Czechia, she discovered a rhythm and completed with 12 factors, six rebounds and two assists. 

In opposition to Hungary, she picked up proper the place she left off. Her bucket slightly below six minutes into the sport put Staff USA up 20-9 and established a double-digit lead that might solely develop all through the day. Within the first quarter alone, Collier registered 10 factors, three rebounds and a block. 

Collier solely ended up taking part in quarter-hour as a result of nature of the sport, however nonetheless completed with 19 factors, six rebounds and a block, and Staff USA was +35 together with her on the ground. Her 19 factors have been tied with Breanna Stewart’s 19 towards Czechia for probably the most in a sport by an American at this match. 

That is the model of Collier that Staff USA will want because the competitors ramps up, and it is an ideal signal that she’s discovering a groove. 

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Kara Lawson is a defensive-minded coach, and her group gave her a efficiency to be pleased with on that finish of the ground. 

Hungary, led by their pair of 6-foot-4 bigs, Dorka Juhász and Virag Takacs-Kiss, prefers to function inside-out, however Staff USA wouldn’t let that occur. The likes of Collier, Breanna Stewart, Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese did a terrific job holding their very own in these matchups. Their athleticism and aggression compelled Juhász and Takacs-Kiss out to the perimeter the place they’re much less comfy, and that duo mixed for 4 factors on 2 of twenty-two taking pictures. As a group, Hungary scored a tournament-low 16 factors within the paint. 

The Individuals additionally did a terrific job making use of strain to the turnover-prone Hungarians, who entered the sport averaging a tournament-worst 21.5 turnovers. 9 completely different American gamers had a steal as Staff USA compelled a whopping 27 turnovers, which they become 44 factors. And so they did so with out fouling. Staff USA dedicated simply 9 fouls and Hungary was held to 3 free throw makes an attempt. 

“We put a heavy emphasis on defending with out fouling,” Kahleah Copper stated. “Discovering that steadiness of the physicality, however not fouling. I believe we did a great job of adjusting from the pool play to now. So, once more, that was a heavy emphasis and we have been ready to do this tonight.”

Report-setting offensive efficiency

Collier led the way in which with 19 factors, however this was a real group effort offensively from Staff USA. 5 gamers — Collier (19), Rhyne Howard (15), Caitlin Clark (10), Copper (10) and Jackie Younger (10) — scored in double figures, 9 gamers had no less than seven factors and all 12 gamers on the roster acquired on the scoresheet because the Individuals set a lot of offensive information. 

In its finest displaying to this point in Berlin, Staff USA shot 59% from the sector, together with 12 of 23 (52%) from 3-point vary, and assisted on 31 of 40 made discipline targets. This is a take a look at a few of the information they set:

• Most factors in a World Cup quarterfinal sport
• Second-most factors in a World Cup knockout spherical sport
• Most assists in a World Cup quarterfinal sport
• Tied most 3s by USA in a World Cup sport

Courting again to 1986, Staff USA has six of the seven highest-scoring video games within the knockout stage of the World Cup. 

“Having 30 assists actually speaks to the sport, the way in which that we’re shifting the ball. It isn’t one-on-one basketball, we’re taking part in as a group,” Collier stated. “A number of individuals are getting touches, we’re discovering the very best shot, not only a good shot. That displays that. I really feel like every sport we’re enhancing with that, simply getting our chemistry.

“This group has by no means performed along with this group of individuals, so generally it takes some time to come back collectively,” Collier continued. “However we’re benefiting from every observe, every sport that now we have.”