Kara Lawson, the coach of Team USA women’s basketball, dismissed external opinions following their overwhelming 108-56 victory against Hungary in the FIBA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals. During a postgame press conference, Lawson addressed questions about power rankings and motivation. She revealed she wasn’t aware of recent rankings but commented on the enthusiasm for France, who showed strength during group play.
Kara Lawson: “This is a big tournament, the World Cup. It’s natural for people to have opinions on who they think will win or lose. That excitement is why we love sports.”
Lawson emphasized that while many people now share their views and create rankings, her team focuses inward. She said, “Worrying about someone else’s opinion doesn’t change your ability to perform.”
Following the group stage, FIBA moved France ahead of the United States in its final “Smart Power Rankings.” This adjustment came after the U.S. narrowly beat Italy 55-52, their lowest-scoring World Cup game since the introduction of the 3-point line in 1984. FIBA called the American team’s connections on the court a “work in progress” but noted that their rankings were subjective.
Lawson praised France for their World Cup performance, acknowledging their strong play with a quarterfinal victory over China. Because France is on the opposite side of the bracket, they can only meet the U.S. in the championship game.
Concerns about Team USA’s starting lineup persisted leading into the knockout stage. Lawson did not directly address these during the post-victory press conference. Despite criticism, Lawson remained committed to her veteran lineup, which included Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart. This strategy proved effective against Hungary, with the team dominating the game early.
The U.S. team scored 36 points in the first quarter and had a substantial 59-30 lead at halftime. They shot an impressive 59% from the field, hit 12 of 23 3-point attempts, and recorded 31 assists on 40 baskets. Their 108 points set a record for quarterfinal scoring in a Women’s World Cup game, and they made history as the first team to achieve at least 30 assists at this stage, according to FIBA.
Napheesa Collier led with 19 points and six rebounds. Every U.S. player scored, with five reaching double figures. Caitlin Clark, narrowly missing a double-double, recorded 10 points and nine assists. Angel Reese added nine points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Paige Bueckers contributed seven points and three assists.
This victory extended the U.S. team’s World Cup winning streak to 34 games. The team has been undefeated in the tournament since losing to Russia in the 2006 semifinals. The U.S. will face the winner of another quarterfinal between Australia and Spain in the upcoming semifinal, moving two wins away from a fifth consecutive World Cup title.