Team USA coach Kara Lawson speaks out on prognosticators after dominant FIBA World Cup win over Hungary
USA Women’s Basketball Routs Hungary, Leaves Power Rankings in the Dust
In a dazzling display of firepower, the United States women’s national basketball team defeated Hungary 108–56 in the quarterfinal of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Thursday night. The win—its 34th consecutive victory in World Cup play—kept the Americans in the hunt for a fifth straight championship while allowing coach Kara Lawson to dismiss outside opinion and focus on the game ahead.
The 108 points came in a game the USA never looked back on. The Americans opened strong, 36–9 in the first quarter, and carried a 59–30 lead into the half. They shot 59 % overall, hit 12 of 23 three‑point attempts, and recorded 31 assists on 40 baskets—an FIBA record for a quarterfinal. Napheesa Collier led the team with 19 points and six rebounds; every player scored, and five finished in double figures. Caitlin Clark, who had been the face of the squad all tournament, contributed 10 points and a game‑high nine assists in just 20 minutes. Angel Reese added nine points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Paige Bueckers logged seven points and three assists. The veteran starting lineup—Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Collier, and Breanna Stewart—stood out as a cohesive unit that drove the offensive explosion.
The win also extended the USA’s World Cup winning streak to 34 games, the longest in the history of the tournament, and marked the first time the team has not lost since the 2006 semifinals. Their next challenge is the winner of a Saturday quarterfinal matchup between Australia and Spain, with the final on the horizon.
Coach Kara Lawson Keeps Focus on the Team
After the game, Lawson was asked at the press conference whether the recent “Smart Power Rankings” published by FIBA had added any extra motivation. She admitted she had not seen the rankings, but addressed the conversation head‑on, saying, “This is a big tournament, this is the World Cup, and it’s okay for people to have opinions on who they think is going to win and who they think is going to lose and who they’re cheering for and who they’re going to boo. That’s a competition, I think that’s why we love sport, it’s why it’s so exciting.” She went on to note that her team doesn’t discuss outside rankings inside their “bubble,” adding, “We clearly don’t talk about any of that inside our bubble, and we really just focus on what we need to do. Worrying about someone else’s opinion doesn’t serve you, because it doesn’t change whether you can do it or not. It’s just someone’s opinion.”
The FIBA rankings had placed France ahead of the United States after the group stage, citing the Americans’ “on‑court connections as a ‘work in progress.’” Lawson acknowledged the French as a formidable opponent, remarking, “As far as France, what a wonderful team, and they’ve had an outstanding World Cup so far, so they should have a lot of people thinking they can do well.” France’s quarterfinal victory over China (90–61) confirmed their status as the likely finalist who could face the U.S. in a title game.
Sticking With the Veterans
One of the biggest topics surrounding Lawson’s squad was the composition of the starting lineup. Lawson has been a steadfast advocate of keeping a veteran core in the spotlight. The roster she started against Hungary—Gray, Young, Copper, Collier, and Stewart—had proven its worth, and the 108‑point rout underscored that decision. Despite some fan frustration over her choice to forego a more rotated lineup, Lawson’s confidence in the seasoned starters was rewarded on the court. Her comments after the game did not directly address the ongoing debate about lineup flexibility, but the performance left little room for doubt.
The Big Picture
The U.S. victory sets the stage for a semi‑final showdown that could decide the championship. The Americans are two victories away from clinching their fifth consecutive World Cup title, a record in the sport. Meanwhile, France’s path to the final remains clear, having already eliminated China and standing on the opposite side of the bracket from the U.S. If France advances, a rematch of the group stage will ensue in the championship game.
With the tournament still in full swing, the focus remains on the athletes’ performance rather than on rankings or external chatter. As Lawson reminded the press, “We clearly don’t talk about any of that inside our bubble, and we really just focus on what we need to do.” Her words echo a philosophy that has kept the U.S. women’s basketball program at the pinnacle of international competition for decades.
