Jackie Young fuels US women's team to narrow 55-52 World Cup win over Italy
Jackie Young scored 10 points as the United States edged Italy 55-52 in a tense World Cup group match.
In Berlin, the United States women's basketball team secured a 55-52 win against Italy, marking its narrowest preliminary-round margin since 1971. Jackie Young led the scoring with 10 points, and the team broke a late 50-48 deficit with a decisive 7-0 run. Breanna Stewart finally scored after missing her first eight attempts, and Chelsea Gray hit a jumper to extend the lead. Italy fought back, narrowing the gap to three points, but Cecilia Zandalasini’s final three-pointer missed at the buzzer. The victory kept the US unbeaten at 32 World Cup games, while Italy prepared for its next pool game against China.
Why it matters
The win preserves the US team's historic unbeaten streak and highlights the growing competitiveness of women's international basketball.
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