The United States women’s basketball team delivered a dominant performance Thursday, defeating Hungary 108-56 to secure a spot in the FIBA World Cup semifinals. The win not only propelled the Americans into the medal round but also set a new benchmark for quarterfinal scoring in the tournament.
Record‑breaking offense
Scoring 108 points, the U.S. posted the highest point total ever recorded in a World Cup quarterfinal. The team also logged 31 assists, the most assists in a single knockout game to date. From the opening tip, the Americans surged ahead, building a 36-12 lead after the first quarter and never looking back.
Key contributors
Napheesa Collier paced the offense with 19 points, while Kahleah Copper added 10 and emphasized the team’s unselfish approach: “When that ball is moving, we want to get the best possible shot. We want to make sure everybody gets involved.” Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese displayed growing chemistry, executing a crisp pick‑and‑roll just before the first‑quarter buzzer. Clark finished with 10 points and nine assists, narrowly missing a double‑double.
Efficient shooting
The Americans shot 77% in the opening stretch, connecting on 20 of their first 26 attempts and sinking five of six three‑pointers. By halftime, the United States led 59-30, the highest‑scoring first half ever recorded by a team in a knockout game at this World Cup.
Defensive strength
Defensively, the U.S. limited Hungary’s leading scorer, Dorka Juhasz of the Minnesota Lynx, to just two points on 1‑of‑12 shooting. Juhasz, who entered the tournament averaging 15.3 points and 11 rebounds, missed her first seven shots and did not score until the final minutes of the first half.
Minor setback
Mid‑game, forward Sonia Citron briefly left the floor after an accidental hand to the nose. She returned to start the fourth quarter, contributing to the team’s continued dominance.
Looking ahead
With the semifinal matchup set, the United States will face the winner of the Spain‑Australia quarterfinal on Saturday. The victory extends the Americans’ streak to 34 consecutive World Cup games, a run that began after a loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals. The U.S. has reached the medal round in every tournament since the format changed in 1983.
Hungary’s historic run
Although the result was lopsided, Hungary celebrated its best ever World Cup finish by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time. The nation previously placed fifth in the 1957 tournament, which was conducted under a round‑robin format without medal rounds.
Fans across the country will be watching closely as the United States aims to add another medal to its storied basketball legacy.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
