A facile victory over Czechia was what the USA needed but, Emmet Ryan writes, there are still big issues to address before the medal rounds of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Czechia, already eliminated before this game, were never likely to pose much of a threat to the USA. The Americans leaned into their strengths and also showed more fluidity in the offensive half court as they moved to 3-0 with ease.
Yet there are still tough calls to be made, even with a very favourable quarter final draw awaiting them.
Letting them cook
It’s so much easier for everyone when there are clear leaders on the floor. Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart were clearly that in this game. Stewie’s role really is the difference between the USA getting into dogfights and taking full control of games.
When the Americans run the game through her, they open up the entire half court. We saw that on full display here as Stewart was able to mix it up between scorer and creator to confuse the Czechia D at her leisure.
For those around her, it made offensive spacing so much more logical. Collier and Jackie Young aside, the biggest beneficiary was arguably Angel Reese. As a two-headed tandem with serious length, she and Stewie could lean into their individual strengths to blend together brilliantly on the floor.
What about the other youngsters?
It’s still not terribly clear what Kara Lawson and her staff want the pairing of Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark to be on the floor. It’s like each is being forced into a combo-guard role that isn’t enough of either spot.
Creatively, both are playing more than soundly in this tournament. Considering the overall offensive challenges for the USA, enabling them to both play as creators first might well be the best option for the Americans. It’s not like they lack capable scorers elsewhere.
That being said, it really feels like more defined roles for both would deliver bigger results. Right now there’s excess deferral from both of them when, let’s be honest, they are each at their best when allowed to be voracious. It’s reminiscent of the first season issues between Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, they were both too respectful to each other when embracing greed ended up benefiting both.
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The road is clearing up nicely
The way the draw has broken for the USA, even before the tournament, means they avoid most of the serious threats until the medal rounds. Belgium, France, and Australia are all on the other side of the bracket and can’t meet the Americans before the final.
Thursday will see the USA face the winner of Hungary and Japan. The latter obviously has some streaky shooting that can make them dangerous but they also don’t look to be the force they once were. Hungary would be trickier but a loss to them would be only slightly less apocalyptic than had they fallen to Italy on Sunday.
That means Kara Lawson should have one more game, as well as the rest days that come with it, to settle on what she believes is her best line-up. There’s still too much deference to veterans and not enough of a shot being given to the younger players to win the starting minutes.
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Breanna Stewart looked like the player capable of making everyone else click for the USA, making their offensive sets move more naturally (Pic: FIBA)
A word to the wise
Italy, who you may recall nearly stunned the USA on Sunday while shutting down Caitlin Clark, showed the cost of going all-out against the US. China made light work of an exhausted Italian side in the other game in the group, securing second and a play-in game against Puerto Rico.
Italy instead have a day to rest up before battling Australia. If the USA were to fall before the final, with a potential match-up with Spain in the semi-final the only real threat to that, it bodes ill for whoever may fell them.
Much like the men’s World Cup in 2006, when Greece were out of gas after beating the US when they fell to Spain in the final, the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup may see a team beat the Americans but struggle to win again. That’s the price of going all out to beat the team with the biggest target on its back.
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