PARIS (France) - Recently appointed USA playcaller Kara Lawson has pointed to the dangers of USA taking their global dominance for granted as attention turns towards the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026.
The Berlin showpiece next September will provide an opportunity for the holders to take their fifth successive crown at the event, having already banked an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal at Paris 2024.
Back on French soil with Duke for an NCAA tournament, having been Assistant Coach in the capital for the Games last year, Lawson has been contemplating the task ahead of her as she looks to extend an amazing USA legacy.
I think the rest of the world is catching up with us. That's good news for our sport
And, the first warning shot has been a clear one. Even with a locker room filled with star dust and also with a mind-blowing record at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup behind them, USA still need to be acutely aware they could be victims of a major upset on any given day.
Speaking to French newspaper L'Equipe, she insisted: "We don't come to these international tournaments thinking that no one is at our level. We know there are several teams that can beat us, and we prepare with humility.
"I don't know if I'll say those exact words to the players, but they're aware of it. And what makes me proud is that they rise to this challenge year after year.
"It's a challenge because we expect victory and nothing else. If we win the gold medal, the reaction is, "Yes, that's normal ," but if we lose, people will say we were bad. It's the result of everything we've built.
The more countries that can compete for trophies, the better it will be for basketball
"I was part of it as a player (as an Olympic champion in 2008) , then as an assistant coach, and now as a coach. But it's getting harder and harder to win, " continued Lawson.
"The World Cup is next year in Berlin, and I truly believe that several teams are capable of going all the way, not just us. I think the rest of the world is catching up with us. That's good news for our sport. The more countries that can compete for trophies, the better it will be for basketball."
Before taking to the floor at the big show in Berlin, Lawson and her USA ballers will firstly head to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico this coming March.
Set to face host nation Puerto Rico, as well as Italy, New Zealand, Senegal and Spain, it will give fans the chance to take a look at the reigning champions with their new head coach at the helm.
And, one of the big topics under the microscope will be how the next generation of players are potentially integrated, with fans looking out for possible tournament debuts at the senior global level for the likes of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.
"They're really bringing something new to our sport, a kind of excitement, but also fan communities that follow them everywhere they go," mused Lawson.
"And that's great. We have a great generation of young, very talented players coming up, and I'm looking forward to working with them.
"It will be good to have them in a position to play with Team USA this time and see how they gel with everyone, since there's already so much talent," she concluded.
FIBA