Breanna Stewart scored a game-high 17 points and added eight rebounds as the United States demolished Canada 83-43 in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Semi-Final.
The loss saw Canada advance to the bronze medal game, while the United States will be vying for their fourth consecutive World Cup gold medal.
The Las Vegas Aces star pick-and-roll combo of A’Ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray combined for 19 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists for the United States in the victory.
Laeticia Amihere led all Canadian scorers with eight points.
The Americans pounced on Canada early in the game, going 15-0 to start the game. The US, held the Canadians without a single point for almost five full minutes before Amihere ended the drought with 5:09 left in the first quarter.
“I was really pleased with the attention to detail our team put into the scouting report,” said Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve after the game. “Canada had, I think, a terrific tournament and so I told our group that they are a win against the hosts away from being the No. 1 seed on this side. So I wanted them to understand what they had just done and how difficult they had made it for Canada to score the ball – and Canada are a very good defensive team.
“So it was a quality win for us and like we said our goal is to win a gold medal and we are in a position to do that.”
Canada scored just seven points overall in the first quarter while trailing a 27-7 deficit that would never diminish much.
Overall, the Canadians seemed vastly outmatched by the superior length, strength, speed and athleticism of the United States. Canada shot just 21.9 percent from the field while the United States finished the game having shot the ball 48.4 percent from the field.
Here are some takeaways from Canada’s tough semi-final loss to a powerful American team.
Valuable learning experience for Canada
Despite the lopsided nature of the loss, there are certainly positives for Canada to take from their game against the United States.
For one thing, it’s abundantly clear what the top of the mountain looks like for this team as they seek to prepare for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
USA is an unfair team filled to the brim with not only WNBA talent, but WNBA stars as well – Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu off the bench for USA. Still, it’s the kind of hurdle that will need to be overcome if Canada is to achieve its gold medal dreams.
Understanding what you’re up against is never a bad thing, even if it can feel demoralizing as you embark on an adventure.
For Canada’s head coach, Victor Lapena, this game, and all the others Canada has participated in so far, have been valuable building blocks for what’s to come.
“It’s very, very important to be in these games for us,” Lapena said. “Before coming here, we didn’t speak, we didn’t expect to be in the semi-finals, but on the other hand, we didn’t think we couldn’t do it. …
“I’m very happy with the group because all of our games have been difficult for us. Serbia, France, Japan. Very difficult, but it’s experience and experience and experience and they are very different styles. So for our team, looking ahead, looking to Paris, looking after the Olympics, looking to the next six, eight years [playing in these games] is very, very important.
The United States is flowing down Canada’s throat
When Canada lost 15-0 to start the game, they basically ended there at that point.
USA seemed to have a shocking and impressive game plan playing very quickly which put Canada on their toes early on which led to tentative play and no chance to fight back before he was already too late.
“They played amazing from the start of the game,” Lapena said. “When you play USA in the semi-finals, it’s pretty clear that you’re perfect or they’re going to open the game in 10-15 minutes.”
Unhappy with how they started against Serbia in their quarter-final match, the United States seemed to be playing with just a six-second clock at times. They continually pushed for transition and semi-transition looks and, when Canada’s half-court defense was really established, they forced quick post-ups for easy lay-ups or a kick-out for three. The Canadian defense was powerless against the American ball movement.
Team USA finished the game with 14 points from 15 Canadian turnovers, totaling 16 quick break points and devouring it all with 48 points in the paint.
“I think for any team to play faster earlier in the attack, before the defense is well positioned, that’s a goal for any team,” Reeve said. “It’s an identity that we’ve really hammered home and when we’re at our best. And like I said, any team is at its best when they play earlier in possession. And so, we’ve really put a particular emphasis on this area.
For the bronze medal game
Canada takes on Australia in the bronze medal game on Friday at 11 p.m. ET on Sportsnet.
If they win, it would be Canada’s first FIBA Women’s World Cup medal since 1986, when the national team defeated Czechoslovakia 64-59 to claim bronze.
Australia fell to China in a heartbreaking 61-59, setting up a gold medal game between them and the United States.
Hosts Australia failed to reach the gold medal game despite China being left without top scorer Li Meng. The guard missed the semi-final match after would have have a fever due to fatigue.
For Canada, the chance to face Australia for bronze is an opportunity.
Canada’s only loss in the group stage came in Australia, 75-72, where Canada blew a 14-point lead and saw Australia come back strong in the fourth quarter to steal a victory.
The chance to avenge an earlier loss with a podium finish on the line must be tantalizing to Team Canada. Better yet, it’s fair to think the Canadians will have something of an advantage.
So late in the tournament, fatigue has set in, especially with the number of games the teams have to play in such a short time.
Given the seesaw and physical affair Australia went through in an all-out brawl against China and how lucky Canada was to give their key players a rest in a blowout with the United United, the Canadians should have fresher legs heading into the bronze medal game.
At the very least, Lapena wants his players to rest before the big game.
“Players just need to sleep to recover their bodies and eat the perfect food to be ready,” Lapena said. “Yes, sleep is very important.”
It’s not a huge advantage, but when you’re fighting for a medal for the first time in 36 years, any advantage that can be achieved is worth exploring.
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