Team USA Survives Italy Scare as Caitlin Clark Sets Unwanted Shooting Mark at World Cup
Team USA’s 55-52 win over Italy at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup has emerged as one of the week’s most significant basketball stories, combining a rare scare for the American women with an unusually rough shooting night for star guard Caitlin Clark. The United States advanced directly to the quarterfinals despite offensive struggles, while Clark went scoreless from the field and set an unfortunate shooting record that has sparked intense debate about the team’s form and her role.
Caitlin Clark’s Cold Shooting Night Highlights Team USA’s Escape Against Italy at Women’s World Cup
Team USA’s narrow 55-52 win over Italy at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Women’s World Cup in Berlin has quickly become one of the most talked‑about basketball stories of the week — not for dominance, but for vulnerability and one star’s historically rough night.
USA survives major scare, books quarterfinal spot
The United States needed a gritty late surge to get past Italy, grinding out a 55-52 victory in what was described as the team’s toughest World Cup test in years in Berlin.A gritty late surge lifts the US past Italy 55-52 in its toughest World Cup test in years The win moved Team USA to 2-0 at the tournament and clinched direct qualification to the quarterfinals, avoiding any play‑in complications.Team USA survives major scare against Italy, advances to Women's World Cup quarterfinals
Jackie Young led a struggling American offense with 10 points, while Chelsea Gray delivered a critical defensive play in the closing stages to help preserve the result.A gritty late surge lifts the US past Italy 55-52 in its toughest World Cup test in years Despite the win, the game has been widely framed as a major scare for the perennial powerhouse, underscoring that this World Cup is far from a foregone conclusion.Team USA survives major scare against Italy, advances to Women's World Cup quarterfinals