USA Basketball 2026 World Cup qualifying team | Page 4 | The Boneyard

USA Basketball 2026 World Cup qualifying team

JellyBean said:
Nice!! I hope the egos are checked at the door. Players understand the mission at hand and play as one unit. Just Don't Be That Team. Keep the Standard the Standard.
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Not usually a problem for the women’s team
 
I did note during yesterday’s game that Kara Lawson is no longer on the sidelines for USA basketball, having delegated HC responsibilities to one of her assistants. I assume that means she’s back at Duke preparing for the Tournament.
 
oldude said:
I did note during yesterday’s game that Kara Lawson is no longer on the sidelines for USA basketball, having delegated HC responsibilities to one of her assistants. I assume that means she’s back at Duke preparing for the Tournament.
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I don't think that the commentators mentioned why she wasn't there yesterday, but your assumption has to be correct.
It's interesting to note that she left the team in the hands of 3 successful WNBA coaches: Eric Thibault (he was head coach yesterday), Stephanie White and Natalie Nakase.
 
Reypl21 said:
Griner is a shell of herself. I dont think she has another Olympics run in her. She is not a good defender anymore. Wilson/Boston should be the 5's for the next Olympics. We'll see who else emerges in the mean time.
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Agree Griner is on the downside of her career and has played her last Olympics. If you need another "true center," look to Brionna Jones, who I believe was on this roster before she too got injured.
 
Basingstoke said:
I don't think that the commentators mentioned why she wasn't there yesterday, but your assumption has to be correct.
It's interesting to note that she left the team in the hands of 3 successful WNBA coaches: Eric Thibault (he was head coach yesterday), Stephanie White and Natalie Nakase.
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You have him confused with Nate Tibbets. Jose Fernandez is also part of the coaching staff.
 
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MilfordHusky said:
USA beat #6 Spain by 14. Paige had 9/2/2 and was a second-best +13. Strangely, Howard was +14, but scoreless. Copper had 20 and was the POG.

Awa Fam had 8/5 in 14 minutes. She's tall and mobile.
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The +14 relates to the team's scoring while she was on the court. Her actual efficiency rating is 1, which makes more sense based on her stat line.
 
HuskyNan said:
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A bittersweet recognition for Aaliyah as Canada failed to qualify for world's. She did everything she could late in the game to keep Canada within reach of Australia.

Canada is still struggling with getting over the hump and establishing themselves as a medal contender. More head scratching for Canada Basketball fans as the talent on this team should generate better results than this.
 
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USA won most games easily due to their Fire Power. However in their games against Italy and Spain they showed how poor of a defensive team the were. Their on ball defense allowed to many dribble drives to the basket for layups and the occasional foul. Spain would have been in the game if they made the layups they missed. USA definitely had the better basketball players and athletes but Spain played better team basketball. They just didn't have the talent USA has.

Don't know who I would have given MVP to, but I didn't understand Caitlin Clark getting it.
 
Wbbfan1 said:
USA won most games easily due to their Fire Power. However in their games against Italy and Spain they showed how poor of a defensive team the were. Their on ball defense allowed to many dribble drives to the basket for layups and the occasional foul. Spain would have been in the game if they made the layups they missed. USA definitely had the better basketball players and athletes but Spain played better team basketball. They just didn't have the talent USA has.

Don't know who I would have given MVP to, but I didn't understand Caitlin Clark getting it.
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One thing to consider about drives to the basket by USA opponents. A good ball handler can usually get to the basket. But it’s an entirely different story if a shot blocker like Wilson, Boston or Stewie is waiting for you there. Once the world championships and Olympics begin, US Basketball will have their A-team up front.

This tournament was largely an effort by Sue Bird and USA Basketball to take a look at a number of youngsters to see which ones deserve to be promoted to the “senior team” for the big tournaments ahead. Certainly Paige & CC have made the case and perhaps others as well.
 
Wbbfan1 said:
USA won most games easily due to their Fire Power. However in their games against Italy and Spain they showed how poor of a defensive team the were. Their on ball defense allowed to many dribble drives to the basket for layups and the occasional foul. Spain would have been in the game if they made the layups they missed. USA definitely had the better basketball players and athletes but Spain played better team basketball. They just didn't have the talent USA has.

Don't know who I would have given MVP to, but I didn't understand Caitlin Clark getting it.
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Clark was the 2nd leading scorer far ahead of anyone in assists per game at 6.4 and led the team in efficiency shooting 52.9% from the field and 40% from the 3 point line and along with teammate Kelsey Plum was on the All Star Five for the tournament
 
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Basingstoke said:
Actually, I thought Paige's man to man defense and rotations were spot on virtually all the time.
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Spot on. Paige plays hard every minute of the game for several reasons. She is a fierce competitor that takes pride in everything she does on and off the court, and I’m sure it wasn’t lost on her that this tournament was effectively a “tryout” for the national team that will compete in the World Championships as well as the Olympics.

We all assume that Paige will be the pg on the national team for many years to come. To her credit, Paige is leaving nothing to chance.
 
IMG_4923.jpeg
 
HuskyNan said:
View attachment 118310
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Yet some people try to use a bunch of stats piled up in blowouts to claim that UConn is better this year without her. I guess once/if they get to some serious competition and possible pressure situations in the S16, E8, and FF, we’ll find out.
 
So...Plum must've played really well during this event. You'd never know it. Seems like Bueckers and Clark are the only 2 players anybody wants to talk about (not just this board, I mean in general).
 
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nwhoopfan said:
So...Plum must've played really well during this event. You'd never know it. Seems like Bueckers and Clark are the only 2 players anybody wants to talk about (not just this board, I mean in general).
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I think there was interest in the newbies. How would popular players, in particular, fare in their first stint with the USA National Senior Team? I liked it when Paige, Caitlin, and Kelsey were on the floor together.
 
MilfordHusky said:
I think there was interest in the newbies. How would popular players, in particular, fare in their first stint with the USA National Senior Team? I liked it when Paige, Caitlin, and Kelsey were on the floor together.
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For sure, those 2 are the future, getting to see them share the court together is exciting. By those 2 I mean Paige and Caitlin of course.
 
nwhoopfan said:
So...Plum must've played really well during this event. You'd never know it. Seems like Bueckers and Clark are the only 2 players anybody wants to talk about (not just this board, I mean in general).
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Maybe there wasn't much chatter about her play, but from here, she was amazing to watch during the tournament. There seemed to be no change in her style of play coming from the Unrivaled season.

I'm not sure if it's even possible, but she looks like she's enjoying the game even more than before. There's something different about her energy, in a really good way. I hope this carries into the upcoming WNBA season because the Plum I've seen over the last few months is hella entertaining.
 
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