Italy Proved They Can Compete With Anyone After Nearly Upsetting Team USA

Italy gave Team USA a serious scare in the Berlin Arena on Sunday evening, battling them for 40 minutes. Despite a valiant effort, the Italian team ultimately fell short in the final moments, with Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young leading the charge for the Americans, and a last-second shot by Cecilia Zandalasini missing the mark (52-55).

"It's a bit bitter, of course, but Team USA was the better team and deserved to win," reflected point guard Mariella Santucci. "We learned so much about ourselves. We saw that we can compete with anyone. Playing like this against the United States is special. It makes us believe that this team can go far."

Adding to their impressive performance, the bronze medalists from the last EuroBasket managed to hold the United States to their lowest point total in a World Cup since 1971 (51 points against France). This achievement is a testament to their strong defensive identity.

"Our identity is based on defense," Santucci emphasized. "That's where we draw our energy from. They are an excellent team, so we know we can't always stop them. We played with our hearts to match their physicality. Our defense is the starting point of our offense. That's what makes us so special. We always fight, even against opponents who are bigger and stronger than us."

Italy will look to build on this momentum on Sunday when they face China, aiming to secure second place in the group.

A Reminder

For Team USA, this scare served as a wake-up call. Undefeated for 20 years in the competition and four-time defending champions, Kara Lawson's team may have underestimated their opponent, despite repeated warnings from their coach.

"As I said before the tournament, this will be the most difficult World Cup to win ever. Everyone has become very good. The rosters are much deeper, everyone has someone who can punish you off the bench. We saw that tonight. Every game is a battle, it's very tough. If you're not ready, you can lose every night. This is great for our sport. I hope it encourages more federations to invest in women's basketball."