SANTIAGO (Chile) – The clash of undefeated squads will also serve as a rematch of the previous Final edition of the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in 2023. United States and Brazil (both 6-0) swept their way through the tournament and will now battle for gold Sunday night at Centro de Deportes Colectivos in Santiago, Chile. The South Americans are looking to defend the title they won in León, Mexico, and extend their unbeaten streak to 15 games.
Key matchup
Brazil has arguably the two most dominant players in the tournament, especially in efficiency rating. No team has been able to figure out center Kamilla Cardoso (14.2 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.2 per game blocks) or veteran Damiris Dantas (19.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 40 percent from downtown). This year, U.S. head coach Kara Lawson and her team will have to come up with a sound plan to counter Brazil’s size and skill.
Young forwards Reagan Beers and Joyce Edwards will have their work cut out for them as they’ll be tested in the paint. The pair will also be playing at a clear size disadvantage.
X-Factor
Pace and space have been the winning strategy for the United States. Guards Olivia Miles (6.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists) and Gianna Kneepkens (11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 52 percent from long distance) are No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in efficiency. Hannah Hidalgo and Mikayla Blake will look to wreak havoc on the passing lines, get out in transition, and make it a high-scoring affair. A slower, more methodical game could favor Brazil and its dominant bigs.
Stats don’t lie
A day after collecting a record-breaking 31 steals against Dominican Republic, the USA picked up another 17 in the Semi-Finals. The team is averaging 18.3 per game, about twice the amount for Brazil (9.3). This can lead to more fast breaks, more shot attempts, and, of course, a higher scoring average. The North Americans will go into the final averaging 91.2 points per game, while Brazil sits at 86.0. The teams are statistically tied in rebounds and assists, while the United States has a slight edge in blocks (5.5 to 4.2) and Brazil commits fewer turnovers (12.2 to 13.4). The U.S. also has a small advantage in shooting splits: 45.6 vs 45.3 from the field, 35.3 vs. 34.4 from downtown and 72.4 vs. 68.1 at the line.
Previous meetings
Brazil leads the AmeriCup head-to-head 6-3 and is the only country to have a positive record against United States. The two countries faced each other twice at the Women’s AmeriCup in 2023, with the South American team prevailing in the group stage (67-54) and the gold medal game (69-58). The most recent victory for USA came during the 2021 Semi-Finals (71-60).
FIBA