Chelsea Gray delivered two decisive late plays as USA edged Italy 55-52 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals. Gray drew a charge before adding the closing basket, giving the champions just enough separation to secure their second Group D victory.
What happened
Italy kept the game within one possession, forcing USA to protect a narrow advantage late. Gray first helped stop Italy by drawing the charge, then supplied the final basket in a result that remained tight through the closing sequence.
The three-point win followed a dramatically different start to the group stage for USA. The champions had opened with a 94-61 victory over China, but Italy limited them to 55 points in their second game.
Why it matters
The victory sent USA into the quarterfinals and extended an unbeaten World Cup run dating to 2006. That streak survived one of its sternest tests on a night when the champions had almost no margin for error.
Italy’s resistance made the final possessions consequential and pushed USA far below its opening-game output. Gray’s late contribution proved especially important because the score left little room for a missed opportunity at either end.
By the numbers
USA scored 39 fewer points than it did against China, falling from 94 in the opener to 55 against Italy. The 55-point total was the champions’ lowest in 42 years, underscoring how unusual the game was for a team carrying a two-decade unbeaten World Cup run.
The final margin was three points, compared with USA’s 33-point victory over China. Gray entered the Italy matchup after recording five points, two assists and one steal in 15 minutes during the opener.
Her impact against Italy was defined by the timing of the decisive plays rather than a supplied statistical total. The late charge and closing basket directly shaped the finish of a 55-52 result.
What to watch next
USA closes Group D play against Czechia on Sept. 7. The champions will move into that game with two group-stage wins, a quarterfinal place secured and their unbeaten World Cup run intact.
The contrast between the first two results will frame the group finale. USA produced 94 points against China before grinding out 55 against Italy, showing how sharply the scoring conditions changed from one matchup to the next.