Workforce USA placed on a clinic of their opening World Cup win over China.
The dominance was pushed by the American youth, or the “Younger and Turnt” crew, with head coach Kara Lawson utilizing the sport as a possibility to permit the rising era of American expertise to showcase their abilities on the worldwide stage.
Rhyne Howard, Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark all scored a team-high 14 factors, with Howard making 4 3s and Clark racking up 11 assists. On the glass, it was Angel Reese, who corralled a team-high 9 rebounds. China had nothing for the short cohesion and chemistry displayed by Workforce USA, because the Individuals pinged the ball across the halfcourt with precision, ensuing straightforward, open pictures.
Workforce USA’s second sport ought to comply with an analogous script—if not be an much more authoritative win for the Individuals (2:45 p.m. ET, TNT).
China, at the least theoretically, may set up a bonus over america with their measurement. Italy brings no such bodily edge, whereas additionally missing the personnel essential to match Workforce USA’s extra of ability and athleticism. Leaning into 3-point variance—and hoping they shoot higher than the 20 % from 3 they registered of their opening win over Czechia—is probably going Italy’s greatest, but nonetheless not nice, technique.
How Workforce USA makes use of the sport to achieve reps forward of more difficult post-group stage video games is most attention-grabbing.
Will Lawson once more go together with the staff’s youthful, brisker legs, letting the likes of Bueckers, Clark and Reese, in addition to Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, carry bigger minute masses that and never overextended the older, or in keeping with Buckers, “Unc,” era of American gamers?
Or, realizing the Workforce USA vets doubtless shall be characteristic extra prominently in later, extra tightly-contested matchups, will Lawson look to provide Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Grey, Kahleah Copper and others with extra nationwide staff expertise a bit extra run, no matter how the sport is trending?
Both manner, anticipate one other purple, white and blue romp as they affirm their standing on the high of Group D.
What’s going to you be seeking to see in Workforce USA of their second sport? Who do you expect can have an enormous sport? Tell us within the feedback earlier than additionally sharing any ideas about Sunday’s different video games.
Can the Opals and Cats additionally cruise to a second World Cup win?
Two groups that might finally pose a problem to america additionally shall be aiming for robust second showings on Sunday.
From Group C, Australia meets Türkiye (5:30 a.m. ET, HBO Max) earlier than Belgium faces Puerto Rico (11:45 a.m. ET, truTV).
Though Steph Talbot and her 4-for-6 effort from 3 was the headliner within the Aussies’ opening win over Puerto Rico, essentially the most encouraging growth for the Opals and head coach Sandy Brondello was the play of their beginning frontcourt of Alanna Smith and Ezi Magbegor.
Largely resulting from accidents, each Smith and Magbegor have had underwhelming WNBA seasons. If Australia intends to exit Berlin with a medal, the 2 want to achieve their previously-established ranges. Though she logged simply 12 minutes, Smith put up an environment friendly 10 factors and grabbed eight rebounds—and dedicated only a single foul. Magbegor spent extra time on the ground, ending with 11 factors and 9 boards.
Comparable performances in opposition to Türkiye would encourage additional confidence in Australia’s medal probabilities.
For Belgium, there’s larger certainty about their prospects—as a result of Emma Meesseman is all the time going to be superior.
Even together with her array of worldwide honors, Emma claimed one other one within the opener, as her 27 factors have been each a private and Belgian document for the World Cup. She added 9 boards and 5 assists, giving her one of the best efficiency of opening day.
As head coach Mike Thibault is aware of that Meesseman will ship, the Cats’ World Cup destiny depends on the flexibility of their supporting forged to money in on the benefits Emma creates. Julie Vanloo is off to begin in that regard, going 6-for-11 from downtown as she netted 22 factors.
Julie Allemand thrived in her conventional distributor function within the win over Türkiye, meting out 9 assists.
However to medal for the primary time in nationwide staff historical past, Belgium doubtless would require Allemand additionally to emerge as a scoring risk; she scored simply 4 factors within the opener. WNBA gamers Antonio Delaere, who was quiet in opposition to Türkiye, and Kyara Linskens, who posted 11 factors and eight rebounds, will even have to method their apexes as Belgium progresses by the event.
