BERLIN (Germany) - There is a certain inevitability that follows the USA wherever they go at a FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
They are expected to win. They are expected to dominate. And when they fall short of their own standards, the questions come quickly: What went wrong? Is this team vulnerable? Can anyone finally challenge them?
Italy surely did just that and more last night.
However, the secret to the USA's remarkable success may not lie in the fact that they never experience bad games, but rather in their ability to respond effectively when those nights occur.
Following a performance that fell below their usual standards against Italy, where they scored only 42 points in the first three quarters, making it the second-best defensive record against the USA in Women's World Cup history, the team's resilience was once again put to the test as they secured a 55-52 victory.
Don’t try to excuse away what happened
Coach Kara Lawson shared the following regarding their performance post-game:
“When you have a performance that’s below your level, don’t try to excuse away what happened,” Lawson said. “Just be honest with what you’re seeing, and then go back to work to improve.”
It is an approach that speaks to the mentality required to make it through a World Cup, where every game brings a different challenge and there is no time to dwell on any past missteps, with the short turnaround between games.
The Italy game provided a chance to address their vulnerabilities, which are seldom exposed due to their tendency to dominate opponents.
Can they learn from that and use that experience to get better, hungrier, more aware of the strength of the opposition?
“It is so hard to win in the World Cup,” Lawson said. “And I know our history is so accomplished at our federation, and I know we all know the expectation is for us to win.”
Despite expectation, however, Lawson pointed out that sometimes their championship history can obscure the fact that there was a real fight to get to each of them, whether big or small.
“But every single one of those wins came hard, and every one at this tournament comes hard,” the coach said. “And we understand that.”
The greatest challenge of this World Cup is the overall growth of all teams, which narrows the gap between them each time they compete on the court. As more players compete in top leagues worldwide, we are seeing peers go head-to-head more than ever before.
“You have to have great respect for who you play; you have to prepare in a way to win,” Lawson added.
For a team pursuing another World Cup title, resilience is not just needed during moments of crisis; it is integral to the entire process.
"We talked about the start of the tournament, and for us, we wanna be the most improved team through this tournament. From when it starts to when it ends," shared Lawson. "It's clear we've got some improvements to make, so we'll just go back to work and try to put a better performance on tomorrow."
For all the USA's accomplishments and the pedigree they have built over the past three decades, Lawson is aware that they cannot rest on their laurels and that each game is a step closer to maintaining that excellence.
“The teams that can persevere through that and have a resilient mindset are the ones that are able to win. That’s what it takes,” shared Lawson.
“That’s why, if you’re fortunate enough at the end of the tournament to be the winner, that’s why it’s so satisfying,” Lawson said. “That’s why it’s so exhilarating. That’s why you celebrate the way you do, because this thing’s not easy.”
FIBA