Team USA is set to compete against Italy in their second group-stage match of the FIBA Women’s World Cup on Sunday. This follows their opening victory against China, where they showcased their strength and strategy. The outcome of this upcoming game will be crucial for Team USA as they aim to secure their position in the tournament.
Criticism of Starting Lineup Choices
Sue Bird’s team relied on its experienced starting five, featuring Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier, from the opening tip. This decision has faced scrutiny from WNBA expert Robin Lundberg, who expressed his views on social media platform X.
Team USA survives late Italy scare
Team USA endured a difficult shooting performance, failing to make a single three-pointer until late in the third quarter despite attempting 10 shots from beyond the arc. Jackie Young led the way with 10 points while also contributing four rebounds and three assists. However, Team USA managed to recover down the stretch and narrowly escaped with a 55-52 victory, giving Sue Bird’s team its second win of the group stage despite an inconsistent overall performance.
“Team USA’s bench is so much better than the starters,” Lundberg wrote. One user wrote , “They are weirdly attached to “seniority” when sports is based on meritocracy. “Starters gotta stop missing easy layups,” one user wrote , while another added , “Poor shooting by pretty much everyone.
His comment appeared to question the decision to leave younger stars such as Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese among the reserves while the veteran-heavy group received starting roles. Lundberg’s post quickly generated reactions from fans, with several social media users expressing similar concerns about Team USA’s reliance on seniority. Another fan added , “Seems like they would rather lose than play the best lineup. The criticism continued as Team USA struggled to find its rhythm offensively, particularly during the opening stages of the game. Paige Bueckers eventually broke the drought with the team’s first successful three-point basket. Fans were quick to react to the struggles. The team’s first-half performance also drew sharp criticism online. One fan tweeted , “Did they party or something? This is a MESS. Utter chaos. Another user wrote , “Neither are playing well tho. 2nd unit was solid defensively” Despite the debate surrounding the starting lineup, one of Team USA’s veterans ultimately finished as the team’s leading scorer against Italy. Angel Reese, meanwhile, provided an important contribution off the bench. She scored eight points, the second-highest total for Team USA, and made her presence felt defensively with two blocks and a steal in just four minutes of action. The contest remained tight heading into the fourth quarter, with Italy even taking a three-point lead at one stage.
