Sep 7, 2026 11:45 PM
Updated Sep 8, 2026 5:10 AM
Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Paige Bueckers all contributed to win over Czechia in FIBA Women's World Cup
Breanna Stewart wasn’t about to let Team USA play another squeaker in FIBA Women’s World Cup play.
After Team USA pulled out a three-point win over Italy on Sunday, the Americans showed their dominance with a 105-64 win over Czechia in Berlin.
And Stewart, a UConn alum who is one of the most decorated U.S. players in international competition, led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
It was the 33rd win in a row in World Cup play for the United States, which hasn’t dropped a game in the tournament since a loss to Russia in the 2006 semifinals.
U.S. head coach Kara Lawson played all 12 players – everyone scored – but none of the starters saw more than 17 minutes of action.
UConn connection key
Team USA took a 29-15 lead at the end of the first quarter, and Stewart scored 11 of her points in that frame.
Another UConn alum, Napheesa Collier, took over in the second period, who scored seven of her 12 points in that quarter as Team USA ended the half with a 57-33 lead. Collier added six rebounds.
The Americans scored more points in the first half than they did in the entire game against Italy on Sunday, a 55-52 contest.
South Florida forward Alisia Jenkins (24) shoots against Connecticut guard/forward Napheesa Collier (24) and forward Breanna Stewart (30) in the second half of a game at Gampel Pavilion on Feb. 29, 2016: David Butler II-USA TODAY SportsAgainst Czechia, Paige Bueckers -- the third UConn connection to Team USA -- scored 10 points in 19 minutes, adding five assists, two blocks and a rebound
Caitlin Clark, who was held without a basket on Sunday for the first time in her pro or collegiate careers, added nine points and led the Americans with seven rebounds. Kiki Iriafen led the rebounds column with 11.
Czechia finished group play with an 0-3 record. The nation last competed in the World Cup in 2014.
What’s next
The United States finished unbeaten in group play at 3-0, having defeated China 94-61 on Friday. They move on to the quarterfinal round against the winner of the game between Hungary and Japan, which is scheduled for Tuesday.
The quarterfinal will be played Thursday.
Gold medal ‘Stewie’
Should the United States, the No. 1 seed, win the worlds, Stewart will add another gold medal to an international trophy case that is rapidly filling up.
The 32-year-old New York Liberty star has been on the winning side in three Olympics (2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Tokyo, 2024 Paris), three World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) and five FIBA championships in the youth ranks (age groups of 19 and younger).
Breanna Stewart listens to the national anthem after Team USA won the gold medal in women's basketball in Paris in 2024. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsShe also won four NCAA championships at UConn (2013-16) and three WNBA titles (2018, 2020 with the Seattle Storm, 2024 with the Liberty).
Collier, who turns 30 this month, has gold medals from each of the past two Olympics and also was part of two FIBA-championship youth teams. She and Stewart were teammates on the UConn team that won the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Bueckers, 24, is competing in her first FIBA Women’s World Cup but won three FIBA youth gold medals. She won the national championship with the Huskies in 2025 before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings.
UConn’s international royalty
UConn alum are no strangers to gold medals in international competition.
Stewart is seeking to join Sue Bird – the managing director of the USA Basketball Women's National Team – as the only woman with four World Cup championships.
In the Olympics, Diana Taurasi has six gold medals and Bird five.
United States players Diana Taurasi (left) and Sue Bird celebrate with their gold medals after the women's basketball gold medal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games on Aug 8, 2021. It was the fifth gold medal for each, with Taurasi winning a sixth in Paris in 2024. James Lang-USA TODAY SportsComments
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