Italy Stuns U.S. in Women’s FIBA World Cup, China Edges Czech Republic in Overtime

POLICY WIRE — Berlin, Germany — Italy put up a fierce challenge against the United States in a thrilling Women’s Basketball World Cup match on Sunday, while China narrowly beat the Czech Republic in...

Editorial Desk

September 7, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Berlin, Germany — Italy put up a fierce challenge against the United States in a thrilling Women’s Basketball World Cup match on Sunday, while China narrowly beat the Czech Republic in a nail-biting overtime game.

The U.S. managed to pull through with a 55-52 victory over Italy, marking their 32nd consecutive win at the tournament but their closest contest in two decades. Italy’s strong second-half comeback brought the crowd to its feet, with standout performances from Olbis Andre and Cecilia Zandalasini.

In another dramatic encounter, China needed extra time to overcome the Czech Republic 74-70. Han Xu led the charge with 22 points, while Zhang Ziyu struggled to find her rhythm, scoring just three points after a strong debut against the U.S. Meanwhile, Belgium secured a spot in the final phase with a dominant 76-64 win over Puerto Rico.

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Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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