The Knockout Path Begins
The United States now gets a valuable break while its next opponent must play an elimination game.
Hungary and Japan meet Tuesday in Berlin, with the winner advancing to face Team USA. FIBA notes that Hungary is attempting to reach the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 40 years, while Japan has not reached the last eight since 1979.
Neither will enter a potential matchup with the Americans carrying the same expectations.
But Italy already demonstrated the danger of assuming that reputation alone will decide games in Berlin.
For Team USA, Monday’s rout was therefore more than another group-stage victory. It was evidence that a talented roster could absorb a difficult performance, reset in less than 24 hours and immediately rediscover the level expected of a defending champion.
The Americans are safely in the quarterfinals, undefeated and riding a 33-game World Cup winning streak.
The next loss, though, would end their tournament.