USA Basketball 2026 World Cup qualifying team | Page 2 | The Boneyard

USA Basketball 2026 World Cup qualifying team

Hopefully with Coach Lawson, the team can score more than 50pts a game.
They did, in fact, score more than twice that in their romp over Senegal today.
Rhynne Howard and Caitlin Clark were particularly impressive today (but, in fairness, the talent, even sans Stewie, Aja and Pheesa, is extraordinary). Caitlin played a very good game on offense shooting efficiently and handing out about a dozen assists (& very few turnovers), and Rhynne's shot was really on today.
I was a bit pissed (showing my bias) that it took til the 3rd "line shift" for Paige to be subbed into the game, but she eventually got about 14 minutes I think mostly playing as a shooting guard with either Chelsea or Caitlin at the point. I think that she and Caitlin will be quite effective on the court together as the games progress. I think that Paige scored 9 (a little uner 50% from the field), had some good assists (only 1 turnover when she got blitzed), rebounds and some terrific man-to-man defense (including a great steal on an inbounds play).
 
.-.
The Bueckers-Clark combo is going to be a tremendous problem for opponents going forward.
Also, I'm not a Tennessee fan, but I always liked Rae Burrell's athleticism and felt bad for her injuries and am now so happy for her being healthy and able to really blossom.
 
The Bueckers-Clark combo is going to be a tremendous problem for opponents going forward.
Also, I'm not a Tennessee fan, but I always liked Rae Burrell's athleticism and felt bad for her injuries and am now so happy for her being healthy and able to really blossom.

Rae had a pretty good season in the W and a very good season in Unrivaled. She exceeded my expectations.
 
IMG_4896.jpeg
 
.-.
They did, in fact, score more than twice that in their romp over Senegal today.
Rhynne Howard and Caitlin Clark were particularly impressive today (but, in fairness, the talent, even sans Stewie, Aja and Pheesa, is extraordinary). Caitlin played a very good game on offense shooting efficiently and handing out about a dozen assists (& very few turnovers), and Rhynne's shot was really on today.
I was a bit pissed (showing my bias) that it took til the 3rd "line shift" for Paige to be subbed into the game, but she eventually got about 14 minutes I think mostly playing as a shooting guard with either Chelsea or Caitlin at the point. I think that she and Caitlin will be quite effective on the court together as the games progress. I think that Paige scored 9 (a little uner 50% from the field), had some good assists (only 1 turnover when she got blitzed), rebounds and some terrific man-to-man defense (including a great steal on an inbounds play).


Based on this quote, it sounds like the line ups are going to vary game to game. That's the advantage the US has since they don't have to qualify. It's going to be fun to see what Coach Lawson has planned thoroughout the tournament.
 
.-.
Gabby had 11/3/4/3, including a sweet behind-the-back pass in transition.
 
Not just Paige. It seems more like serial numbers than player numbers. I doubt it's long term.

View attachment 118083

Here is the explanation about USA Basketball numbers. There is one article which talked about when a player receives their number, it comes with a bag tag of the players who had worn the number before them, which I believe includes both Men and Women.

 
Last edited:
There is no doubt that Paige will become a permanent fixture on USA basketball’s senior national team, particularly since Sue is running the show, It will be interesting to see the team’s makeup when Stewie, Wilson, Boston, Pheesa?, Griner? are added back to the roster.
 
.-.
There is no doubt that Paige will become a permanent fixture on USA basketball’s senior national team, particularly since Sue is running the show, It will be interesting to see the team’s makeup when Stewie, Wilson, Boston, Pheesa?, Griner? are added back to the roster.
Add a question mark to Boston as well as nothing has been made official regarding her "lower body" injury that was announced during the Unrivaled playoffs.
 
Add a question mark to Boston as well as nothing has been made official regarding her "lower body" injury that was announced during the Unrivaled playoffs.
Good point. The one thing I notice about this current USA team is that they don’t really have a center on the roster. They are playing Reese, Billings & Iriafen in the post. That’s fine for now. But when they face a good French team with Malonga at center, having a true center with size will be important.
 
Good point. The one thing I notice about this current USA team is that they don’t really have a center on the roster. They are playing Reese, Billings & Iriafen in the post. That’s fine for now. But when they face a good French team with Malonga at center, having a true center with size will be important.
Perhaps Ms. Lauren Betts will be called into service after the NCAA tournament ends?
 
Perhaps Ms. Lauren Betts will be called into service after the NCAA tournament ends?
Good suggestion. That might depend on whether Griner is available for one more Olympic cycle. But Betts on USA basketball does fit with a pattern of considering recent college players for the last spot on the team.
 
i would hope Kara will start both Paige and Clark as this is clearly the future USA starting backcourt, so might as well start in this tournament with Gray and KP coming off the bench.
 
i would hope Kara will start both Paige and Clark as this is clearly the future USA starting backcourt, so might as well start in this tournament with Gray and KP coming off the bench.
She’s mixing up her lineups from game to game to see which combinations work best. Paige & CC we’re on the court together in Game 1. Game starters really don’t matter all that much as Kara is typically splitting 5-player rotations fairly evenly in each qtr.
 
.-.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,336
Messages
4,565,428
Members
10,467
Latest member
Eil Rule


Top Bottom