This year’s Team USA roster for the FIBA World Cup in Berlin caused a lot of excitement about the next generation of stars. Fans were ecstatic to finally see Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers in Team USA jerseys at the senior level. Some even continuously questioned why Kara Lawson insisted on starting a veteran group and leaned heavily on more proven stars.
The gold medal game—and Breanna Stewart’s run in particular—perfectly encapsulated a Team USA truth many fans need to remember for at least a few more years: veteran stars make Team USA for reasons other than because they’ve been there before, and Stewart is still one of the best players in the entire world.
Breanna Stewart was named World Cup MVP
Stewart led Team USA in points per game with 12.8 and in rebounds with 7.3. She didn’t get off to the most impressive start, scoring just seven points against China and five in a close game against Italy.
But, as Stewart has a habit of doing, she showed up when it mattered the most. She scored 16 points on 4-6 shooting from the field and 8-11 from the free-throw line alongside 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block in the semifinals. Then, she recorded 22 points on 7-10 shooting, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in the gold medal game against France.
In the big moments, she was the most important player in the tournament and led Team USA to yet another gold medal. That effort earned her her second World Cup MVP and seventh gold medal.
Stewart has been a Team USA staple since 2014 when she won her first World Cup gold medal as a college player, and she’s still at the top of the game. Young stars coming in and playing well doesn’t change that.
Veterans sealed another World Cup victory for Team USA
Kara Lawson shortened her bench in the gold medal game. Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen all played fewer than three minutes. Angel Reese played just under nine minutes, and Caitlin Clark played 13 minutes, while Aliyah Boston led the younger players with roughly 15 minutes on the court.
Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Stewart, and Jackie Young all played at least 27 minutes and delivered in their time on the court. As mentioned, Stewart led all players with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Young added 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists. Copper recorded 15 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, and 1 steal, while Gray finished the game with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal.
While Clark, Reese, Boston, and Howard made great plays, the veterans did what was expected of them and put up big numbers when Lawson trusted them to play heavy minutes.
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