USA defeats Czechia to sweep Women’s World Cup group stage: Highlights
Updated Sept. 7, 2026, 5:10 p.m. ET
Team USA head coach Kara Lawson questioned her team’s energy after a narrow win over Italy, which Lawson called their “worst offensive game” of the FIBA Women’s World Cup. But the Americans answered back with their largest victory yet.
The Americans improved to 3-0 at the World Cup, completing a sweep of Group D with a 105-64 rout of Czechia in Berlin, Germany, on Monday, Sept. 7. The 41-point victory is the USA’s 33rd consecutive World Cup win, a streak that dates back to 2006.
Breanna Stewart led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 17 minutes. Stewart was one of six Americans to reach double-digits, including Angel Reese (13 pts), Napheesa Collier (12), Jackie Young (12), Paige Bueckers (10) and Sonia Citron (10).
“I wanted to come out and really lead this team in a number of ways,” said Stewart. “Obviously, last night (against Italy) was a close one. A great test for us. Italy is a tough opponent, but wanted to make sure that today we really took things into our own hands and really lead by example here.”
After shooting a dismal 28.6% from the field and 1-of-12 from the 3-point line against Italy, USA flipped the script and shot 53% from the field and 7-of-25 from the 3-point line Monday.
With the preliminary group play in the books, Team USA will face the winner of Hungary or Japan in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Stewart said it’s now “do or die at this point” now that the tournament shifts to single-elimination.
USA TODAY Sports is providing live coverage of Monday’s matchup between USA and Czechia. Follow along with highlights and updates below:
Watch USA vs. Czechia live with Sling
2026 FIBA World Cup rosters: Complete lineup for every nation competing
FIBA Women’s World Cup bracket
Group play is over. The second- and third-place teams from each group advanced to the Round of 12, while the first-place team from each group advanced directly to the quarterfinals.
Breanna Stewart happy with performance
Breanna Stewart came out on a mission in USA’s rout of Czechia. By the third quarter, her job was done and she checked out the game for good with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 17 minutes. When asked if she was satisfied with her performance, Stewart smiled. “Yeah, that’s not bad.”
End of Q3: USA 82, Czechia 47
Team USA kept their foot on the gas in the third quarter, outscoring Czechia by 11 in the frame to extend their lead to 35 points heading into the fourth quarter. All 12 American players have scored in the matchup, led by Breanna Stewart’s 19 points in 17 minutes. Stewart is on triple-double watch with seven rebounds and six assists, although head coach Kara Lawson may rest her. Napheesa Collier and Jackie Young each added 12 points.
Breanna Stewart stays hot
Breanna Stewart picked up right where she left off. Stewart has scored six points in the third quarter, bringing her point total to 19 with 5:14 remaining in the frame. She’s on triple-double watch with seven rebounds and six assists.
Halftime: USA 57, Czechia 33
Team USA scored 57 points against Czechia in the first half, already surpassing their 55-point total vs. Italy on Sunday. The Americans are clicking on all cylinders. Three players — Breanna Stewart (13), Napheesa Collier (12) and Jackie Young (10) — are in double digits as the team is shooting 51% from the field. Team USA made 11 of their last 16 shots to end the frame and has 19 assists on 23 made field goals.
We can’t forget about defense. USA forced five steals and recorded two blocks.
Eliska Joklova leads Czechia with 13 points.
Napheesa Collier cooking early
Napheesa Collier is the second American to reach double-digit points with a made 3-pointer at the 5:22 mark in the second quarter. Collier is also scoring in the paint, putting back her teammate’s missed shot with 4:40 remaining to extend the American’s lead to 39-21. Collier has a team-high 12 points.
End of Q1: USA 29, Czechia 15
Team USA ended the first quarter on a 13-4 run to take a 14-point lead over Czechia into the second quarter.
Veterans led the way for USA in the first quarter with Breanna Stewart recording a game-high 11 points, surpassing her tournament high in the first quarter alone. Napheesa Collier and Jackie Young each contributed five points.
Stewart added four assists to her stat line. Caitlin Clark has three assists and two points. Team USA has no turnovers, compared to three for Czechia. Eliska Joklova leads Czechia with seven points.
Watch: Paige Bueckers blocks shot
Paige Bueckers has a new nickname: Paige Blockers. She denied a Czech opponent with 2:43 remaining in the first quarter.
USA off to sizzling start vs. Czechia
Team USA is coming off its “worst offensive game of the tournament,” USA head coach Kara Lawson said, referencing the team’s 55-52 win over Italy on Sunday. Monday’s matchup, however, is a different story. The inspired Americans are off to a hot start, knocking down three consecutive 3-pointers to open the game. Team USA is collectively shooting 7-of-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from the 3-point line against Czechia with 3:33 remaining in the first quarter. USA leads Czechia 19-11.
Breanna Stewart opens scoring with a 3-pointer
The 3-pointer wasn’t falling for USA in their win over Italy on Sunday, where the Americans shot 1-of-12 from beyond the arc. But USA is already off to a better start. Breanna Stewart knocked down a 3-pointer with 9:09 remaining in the first quarter to open scoring for the Americans.
USA vs Czech Republic is underway at World Cup
The U.S.’ matchup against Czechia has tipped off. USA won the tip.
Team USA FIBA women’s World Cup schedule
The winner of each group will automatically advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, Sept. 10 (TNT, truTV). The second- and third-place finishers of each group will play in the Playoff Qualification Round on Tuesday, Sept. 8 (truTV) to determine the final four quarterfinal spots. The semifinals will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12 (TBS, truTV), followed by the third-place game and final on Sunday, Sept. 13 (TNT, truTV).
Team USA starting lineup
Team USA head coach Kara Lawson is tapping the same unit that started the previous two games:
- Kahleah Copper, G/F
- Napheesa Collier, F
- Chelsea Gray, G
- Breanna Stewart, F
- Jackie Young, G
Women’s World Cup: What time is USA vs. Czechia?
Team USA plays in the FIBA Women’s World Cup against Czechia at 2:45 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 7, at Berlin Arena in Berlin, Germany.
- Date: Monday, Sept. 7
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET (11:45 a.m. PT)
- Location: Berlin Arena (Berlin)
What TV channel is USA vs. Czech Republic on today?
TNT has the exclusive U.S. English-language rights. All 36 games stream on HBOMax. Seventeen of those games air on TNT and truTV, including every U.S. game.
Stream USA vs. Czechia live with SlingTeam USA takes the court
The Americans received a round of applause as they took the court at Berlin Arena.
Team USA arrives; Rhyne Howard in boot
Team USA is back at Berlin Arena, this time for a matchup against Czechia. The Americans exited the team bus one by one. Something to monitor: Rhyne Howard was spotted wearing a boot on her left foot.
Atlanta Dream teammates link up
Atlanta Dream teammates Angel Reese (USA) and Sika Koné (Mali) reunited in Berlin.
Angel Reese’s defense shines in win over Italy
While Team USA struggled to make a shot, Angel Reese used her defensive prowess to lock down Italy. She had two blocks, a steal and three rebounds. Reese also scored eight points, making all four free-throws and two field goals.
“She comes into the game, and she plays with great energy, and she competes,” Team USA coach Kara Lawson said. “She scores, she rebounds, she plays with great pace. It’s what you want in a player, in a young player, to come in and do that. And so that’s what I appreciate more about her. She finds a way to make an impact.”
Kara Lawson breaks down win vs. Italy
Team USA head coach Kara Lawson said defense was the difference in her team’s 55-52 win over Italy, which she called their “worst offensive game of the tournament.” USA’s 55-point total marked the Americans’ lowest point total at the World Cup since 1984.
“You gotta have a defense strong enough to win. And in this tournament, you gotta be able to win different ways if you want to be a champion,” Lawson said to her team after the win. “Let this be the last time that a team plays with motor passion than us throughout the course of the game.”
Who is Team USA’s leading scorer?
Guard Jackie Young leads Team USA in scoring, averaging 11 points through their first two round-robin wins over China and Italy. Here’s a look at Team USA’s stats heading into Monday’s matchups:
| Players | Mins | Pts | FG | 3PT | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackie Young | 20.6 | 11 | 4.5/8.5 | 0.5/2 | 3.5 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Paige Bueckers | 19.5 | 10.5 | 4/7 | 1/1.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Rhyne Howard | 13.7 | 8 | 3/7.5 | 0/0 | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Caitlin Clark | 21.9 | 7.5 | 2/7.5 | 1.5/5 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Aliyah Boston | 18.1 | 6.5 | 2.5/6 | 0.5/1 | 2.5 | 0 | 2.5 | 0.5 |
| Angel Reese | 16.0 | 6.5 | 2/4.5 | 0/0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1.5 |
| Breanna Stewart | 22.1 | 6 | 2/7.5 | 0/0.5 | 9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Kahleah Copper | 20.0 | 5.5 | 0.5/4 | 0.5/2.5 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Napheesa Collier | 16.9 | 5 | 2/6.5 | 0/1 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 |
| Kiki Iriafen | 11.9 | 5 | 1/2 | 0/0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Chelsea Gray | 16.6 | 4.5 | 1.5/4 | 0.5/1.5 | 0 | 1 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Sonia Citron | 8.7 | 1 | 0.5/2 | 0/0.5 | 0.5 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 |
Caitlin Clark World Cup stats
Caitlin Clark is averaging 7.5 points and six assists in 21.9 minutes per game across USA’s first two World Cup wins. Clark is shooting 4-of-15 from the field, 3-of-10 from the 3-point line and 4-of-6 from the free throw line.
Her best performance came in USA’s 94-61 win over China on Sept. 4, where she recorded a 14-point, 11-assist double-double in 25 minutes. However, Clark struggled in USA’s 55-52 win over Italy on Sept. 6 with one point and one assist in 19 minutes.
Angel Reese 2026 FIBA World Cup stats
Angel Reese is averaging 6.5 points, six rebounds, two steals and 1.5 blocks in 16 minutes.
Caitlin Clark sets assist record
Caitlin Clark is not only breaking records in the WNBA, she’s doing so on the international stage. The Indiana Fever guard recorded 14 points and 11 assists in her World Cup debut in Friday’s win over China, the most assists for an American player in the Women’s World Cup, surpassing Alyssa Thomas’ nine against Belgium in 2022.
“Caitlin (Clark) was terrific, coming off the bench and changing the tempo of the game. Her playmaking with 11 assists,” USA head coach Kara Lawson said in the postgame press conference on Friday.
Clark had no turnovers, becoming the first player to record at least 10 assists with no turnovers in the Women’s World Cup since FIBA started tracking assists in 1994. Clark’s 11-assist mark was two away from tying Belgium’s Julie Allemand (13 assists vs. France in 2018) and Japan’s Yuka Harada (13 assists vs. Kenya in 1994) for the single-game assist record the World Cup.
USA vs Czechia preview
Team USA survived a scare against Italy at the FIBA Women’s World Cup, but the road to winning their fifth consecutive gold medal won’t get any easier with a matchup against Czechia less than 24 hours later.
The Americans will face Czechia on Monday, Sept. 7, in their third preliminary round-robin game of the tournament as they look to keep their decades-long win streak of 32 games, dating back to 2006, alive.
Team USA is coming off a 55-52 victory over Italy on Sunday, the Americans’ lowest point total at the World Cup since 1984. Jackie Young led the way with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Angel Reese finished with with eight points, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal to help secure a place in the quarterfinals.
“Obviously, Italy really kind of mucked up the game for us a little bit, and it made it hard on us to score,” Breanna Stewart said. “Tough team … this is a tough tournament, but we all really acknowledge that.”
Team USA roster
- Head coach: Kara Lawson
- Assistant coaches: Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts, Stephanie White
Headlining Team USA — which will be coached by Duke women’s basketball head coach Kara Lawson — are veterans like two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, four-time WNBA champion Chelsea Gray and former Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, as well as young stars in women’s basketball like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 4 | Paige Bueckers | 24 | 6’0″ | Dallas Wings |
| G | 5 | Sonia Citron | 22 | 6’1″ | Washington Mystics |
| SF | 6 | Rhyne Howard | 25 | 6’2″ | Atlanta Dream |
| G/F | 7 | Kahleah Copper | 32 | 6’1″ | Phoenix Mercury |
| G | 8 | Chelsea Gray | 33 | 5’11” | Las Vegas Aces |
| PF | 9 | Kiki Iriafen | 23 | 6’3″ | Washington Mystics |
| PF | 10 | Breanna Stewart | 32 | 6’3″ | New York Liberty |
| SF | 11 | Napheesa Collier | 29 | 6’1″ | Minnesota Lynx |
| G | 12 | Caitlin Clark | 24 | 6’0″ | Indiana Fever |
| G | 13 | Jackie Young | 28 | 6’0″ | Las Vegas Aces |
| C | 14 | Aliyah Boston | 24 | 6’5″ | Indiana Fever |
| PF | 15 | Angel Reese | 24 | 6’3″ | Atlanta Dream |
Czechia World Cup roster
- Head coach: Romana Ptáčková
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Kateřina Zeithammerová | 24 | 5’4″ | Žabiny Brno |
| SF | 2 | Julie Pospíšilová | 27 | 6’0″ | Flammes Carolo Basket |
| PF | 3 | Alena Hanušová | 35 | 6’3″ | DSK Brandýs |
| SG | 4 | Gabriela Andělová | 30 | 5’8″ | USK Praha |
| PF | 5 | Natálie Stoupalová | 28 | 6’1″ | Žabiny Brno |
| G | 7 | Petra Malíková | 23 | 5’10” | USK Praha |
| SF | 8 | Veronika Voráčková | 30 | 5’11” | Basket Zaragoza |
| PG | 10 | Eliška Joklová | 27 | 6’0″ | Minnesota Lynx |
| PG | 12 | Monika Fučíková | 24 | 5’11” | Žabiny Brno |
| SG | 13 | Petra Holešínská | 29 | 5’10” | Botaş SK |
| C | 16 | Kateřina Kalná | 19 | 6’3″ | USK Praha |
| C | 20 | Natálie Koucká | 23 | 6’5″ | USK Praha |
FIBA World Cup scores today
- Belgium 80, Australia 68
- Puerto Rico 75, Turkey 71
- Hungary 82, South Korea 73
- France 111, Nigeria 56
- Spain 79, Japan 59
- Germany 83, Mali 58
- USA 105, Czechia 64
- China 71, Italy 51
FIBA World Cup groups
Group A
- Japan
- Spain
- Germany
- Mali
Group B
- Hungary
- South Korea
- Nigeria
- France
Group C
- Belgium
- Australia
- Puerto Rico
- Turkey
Group D
- United States
- Czech Republic
- Italy
- China
Ranking best players in the world, from Breanna Stewart to Caitlin Clark
It’s on Team USA’s new-look roster to carry the weight of competing against the 15 other teams filled with most talented women’s basketball players in the world in Berlin, Germany.
USA TODAY Sports ranks the top 10 players to watch based on their international resumes here.
How does the FIBA Women’s World Cup work?
This year’s tournament — Germany’s second time hosting — features 16 teams, four more than the 2022 World Cup, but the same number the competition had between 1990 and 2018.
Similar to soccer’s FIFA World Cup, the basketball version put on by FIBA features a preliminary round-robin group stage round. There are four groups each featuring four teams. The second- and third-place teams will advance to a Round of 12, while the first-place team from each group will advance directly to the quarterfinals. Including the third-place game, the tournament will feature a total of 36 matchups.
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