3 Adjustments Team USA Should Make Against France to Win World Cup Gold
On Sunday, Team USA goes for a fifth consecutive gold medal finish in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Standing in their way is their fellow powerhouse team, France. Like the U.S., France has remained undefeated through five games.
In the Finals of this year’s World Cup, one of these teams will suffer their only loss of the tournament, but at the high cost of letting the gold medal slip away. To avoid this fate, the United States needs to make tweaks that put them in a better position to defeat Les Bleues.
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Here are three adjustments that Team USA should seriously consider for the World Cup finals.
Field a New Starting Lineup
When the United States faced Spain in the semifinals, they got off to another slow start, falling behind 9-1 in the first quarter. While Team USA weathered the storm and eventually took a 76-66 win over La Familia, they might face an even tougher uphill climb if they start lethargically against France, the most potent offense in this tournament.
This isn’t to say coach Kara Lawson should relegate all five veterans in her starting unit to the bench. In this Finals matchup, Lawson can mix and match her troops to take France by surprise. For instance, a starting backcourt of Chelsea Gray and Caitlin Clark would give the U.S. two excellent ball handlers and playmakers to offset France’s tremendous defensive pressure.
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Take Away the 3-Ball
One driving force behind France’s impeccable production is their 3-point shooting. In this year’s World Cup, France is the only team to shoot better than 40% from beyond the arc (44.2%, to be exact). Snipers like Marine Johannes, Carla Leite, and Janelle Salaün have been lighting it up from outside, giving their teammates more room to operate inside.
The United States, then, needs to be prudent when it comes to providing help defense and leaving one of these perimeter threats open. Wings like Kahleah Copper, Jackie Young, and Rhyne Howard will have to be on point with their on-ball defense and rotations.
Gabby Williams’ remarkable season with the Golden State Valkyries has translated into a fantastic outing for France at the World Cup. Williams has been doing it inside and outside, putting up 18.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting 56.9% from the field and 48.4% from deep.
Though France is loaded with scoring weapons, the United States must make containing Williams’ production its top priority in the gold medal game. Whether it’s through a designated defender (like, say, an Angel Reese who can switch out on the perimeter) or a sea of bodies thrown at France’s leading scorer, Team USA must nail this defensive assignment.
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“Lawson has a huge problem with Clark” – Fans Explode As Caitlin Clark Gets Limited Minutes in High-Stakes USA vs Spain Clash
Gabby Williams Tears Up After Leading France to Historic First World Cup Final
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