SANTIAGO (Chile) – The United States kept its flawless record intact (3-0) in Group B of the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2025, once again displaying solid team play to defeat a more seasoned Puerto Rico squad (1-1) by a score of 80-62. The Puerto Rican team has retained much of the core that competed in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After a tightly contested first half (35-34), the Americans took control in the third quarter and secured the win.
Turning point
In that third quarter, head coach Kara Lawson’s team locked in on both ends of the floor and went on a 17-3 run over the first six minutes to pull ahead 52-37. The team outscored Puerto Rico 25-8 in this period and entered the final quarter with a 60-42 lead. Puerto Rico tried to rally in the fourth, trimming the deficit to 13 points (70-57) with a layup by Angélica Vélez, but back-to-back three-pointers from Gianna Kneepkens quickly shut the door, pushing the lead back to 76-57 with just 2:12 remaining.
Player of the game
For the second straight game, Olivia Miles dictated the tempo for USA and flirted with a triple-double. The backup point guard contributed 9 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. Kneepkens led all scorers with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Hannah Hidalgo added 10 points, while Grace Van Slooten finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds.
For Puerto Rico, Trinity San Antonio scored 12, while Arella Guirantes and Angélica Vélez chipped in 10 points each.
Stats don’t lie
Depth was a key advantage for the Americans, as their bench accounted for 49 of the team’s 80 points. Puerto Rico’s reserves also contributed, putting up 23 points, but it was not enough to match the USA’s second-unit production. The United States also controlled the paint, outscoring Puerto Rico 32-22 in that area.
Bottom line
With Monday’s win, the USA took a decisive step toward winning Group B, defeating what was, on paper, its toughest opponent. Despite playing the third game in as many days—while Puerto Rico came in rested—the Americans’ youth proved superior to the Boricuas’ experience this time. The United States will rest on Tuesday before wrapping up the Group Phase on Wednesday against Mexico. Puerto Rico, meanwhile, will face Mexico on Tuesday.
They said
Madison Booker, who delivered a strong two-way performance to help USA secure the win, said the tight first half was a learning opportunity for the team. “It was a good game, pretty competitive at the start. They tested us, but I’m really happy with how we were able to grow from it,” said Booker, who tallied 9 points, 5 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals.
FIBA