Kara Lawson Prioritizes Focus Over Opinions at FIBA Women’s World Cup

Team USA women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson emphasized dismissing external opinions after an impressive 108-56 win against Hungary in the FIBA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal. At the postgame press conference, Lawson was questioned about whether recent power rankings influenced her team’s motivation entering the tournament’s final stage.

Lawson acknowledged being unaware of the ranking discussion but addressed the notion of people favoring France as the dominant team during group play.

“This is a big tournament, this is the World Cup, and it’s okay for people to have opinions on who they think will win or lose. It’s about competition. That’s why sports are exciting,” Lawson explained.

FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 matches in Berlin showcased United States head coach Kara Lawson’s focus. She emphasized ignoring rankings and concentrating on team needs.

Lawson’s approach highlighted the team’s lack of discussion about external opinions, focusing on their objectives instead. She mentioned how external opinions don’t impact the team’s capabilities.

France was moved ahead of the United States in FIBA’s final “Smart Power Rankings” after group stages. The Americans faced Italy in a narrow 55-52 victory, marking their lowest-scoring performance since the introduction of the 3-point line in 1984.

Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Breanna Stewart, and Chelsea Gray continued showcasing skills against China during the tournament.

The ranking further described the Americans’ on-court connections as evolving, with FIBA describing its rankings as subjective.

“France is an excellent team and it’s reasonable to have high expectations for them,” Lawson acknowledged.

France demonstrated strength with a 90-61 quarterfinal victory over China. The possibility of facing the United States only arises in the championship game.

Despite lineup concerns, Lawson retained the veteran starters Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart against Hungary. Despite fan frustration, Lawson maintained her lineup strategy for the final stages.

The results were evident against Hungary. The U.S. team scored 36 points in the first quarter, leading 59-30 at halftime. The Americans shot 59% overall, made 12 of 23 3-point attempts, and recorded an impressive 31 assists on 40 baskets. Scoring 108 points marked a Women’s World Cup quarterfinal record, with a first in achieving at least 30 assists, according to FIBA.

Collier led with 19 points and six rebounds. Every U.S. player scored and five reached double figures. Caitlin Clark impressed with 10 points and nine assists in 20 minutes. Reese and Bueckers also contributed significantly.

The victory extended the U.S. World Cup winning streak to 34 games, with the team not facing defeat since losing to Russia in the 2006 semifinals. The Americans will play either Australia or Spain next in Saturday’s semifinal, striving for a fifth consecutive World Cup victory.