Sydney, Sep 27 (BUS): There has been a long legacy of success for the US women’s basketball team at the World Cup.
The names change over time, but the results don’t seem to.
Kelsey Bloom scored 20 points, Chelsea Gray added 16, and the United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 121-59 on Tuesday to break the team’s record for consecutive World Cup wins, The Associated Press reported.
This victory is the 27th consecutive World Cup for Americans who have not lost since the 2006 semi-final against Russia. The United States had won 26 in a row from 1994-2006 prior to that match. The Soviet Union holds the World Cup record with 56 consecutive wins from 1959 to 1986.
“It’s kind of amazing,” said Brianna Stewart, who has featured in the last three World Cups. “Obviously, I’ve been here for some of them, but you understand the legends before that who really started the streak. It shows that no matter who plays in NBA, we’re always trying to strive for excellence.
“That streak doesn’t mean much at the moment because we go into the quarter-finals and are focused on winning a gold medal, but that’s something we have to attach to it later.”
What started with Sue Bird, Diana Torassi and Sylvia Fowles has now been carried over to Stewart and Aja Wilson. A legacy of excellence that doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon.
The trio of title winners top the list of World Cup players in the United States
“Players change, and you know, there’s been a lot of concern about who’s next,” said US coach Sheryl Reeve. “It was a concern when Dawn Staley and Lisa Leslie were playing and who would be next. Then it was Sue and (Taurasi) and then other great players as well. Now with this group they’re saying, ‘Hey, we’re pretty good too’.”
Unbeaten in pool again, the United States has not lost a semifinal match since 1983.
“We know the responsibility when you wear this shirt,” Bloom said. “There’s so much more to yourself than yourself.” “Everyone is proud of the side. We have a common goal. We have some great players in this team.”
The Americans (5-0) won their pool games averaging 46.2 points and weren’t behind on any of them. Now they will wait to see who tied them in the quarter-finals.
The United States was emerging from a record defeat to South Korea as the team broke the World Cup record with 145 points. While the Americans didn’t match that number, they made the match elusive in the first 10 minutes, and went up. 33-15.
The lead swelled to 63-31 in the first half. Bosnia and Herzegovina put in a little way to start the third quarter, but the US scored the last 19 points in the period.
Once again, they used a dominant performance on the inside, edging out Bosnia and Herzegovina 84-28 in the paint led by Wilson, Stewart and Breona Jones.
“It’s a big part of who we are,” Reeve said. “90 whatever we had yesterday and 84 today, we just know what we’re good at and we have players who really understand their chances of it.”
The United States was missing Jewel Lloyd, who the team said was resting. Cooper locality started its place and ended with 11 points.
Nicolina Eliz scored 19 points to lead the Bosniaks (0-5), who were playing in the first World Cup finals.
score board
In other matches on Tuesday, Puerto Rico beat South Korea 92-73 to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time. China beat Belgium 81-55 to finish second in the group. Canada played Mali, France faced Serbia, and Australia opposed Japan.
While all other quarter-final points have been closed, the teams’ locations have yet to be determined. The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) will hold a draw for the matches in the knockout round after the Australia-Japan match.
next one
Bosnia and Herzegovina: The tournament is over.
The United States: Plays in the quarter-finals Thursday.