The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup begins on Friday, Sept. 4 in Berlin, and the U.S. women open against 2022 silver medalist China without A’ja Wilson. Breanna Stewart's message is that the next stretch is less about reputation and more about handling a field that has closed the gap.
That is the central point for the U.S. women’s basketball team. For years, Olympic and World Cup dominance has been the expectation, backed by eight consecutive Olympic gold medals and nine of the last 12 World Cups. But this tournament is being framed as a reality check, and a useful glimpse of what could be waiting at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Stewart sees the gap narrowing
Stewart put it plainly when asked about the modern international game. “There's definitely a ton of parity,” she said. “I think it just makes us really want to be on our Ps and Qs. Make sure we understand exactly what we're doing. And know that we're doing something that's extremely tough.”
That is a significant shift in tone, even for a team that remains the standard-bearer. The old assumption was that the U.S. could simply show up with elite talent and control the tournament. Now, the message is that detail, discipline and consistency matter far more than they once did.
Why this World Cup feels different
The evidence is not hard to find. The U.S. women’s last loss at the Olympics or World Cup came in 2006, but even that long run has come with alarms. At the Paris Olympics, the U.S. trailed France by double digits in the second half of the final. Six months before that, they narrowly avoided an upset by Belgium at the Olympic qualifying tournament.
That does not mean the U.S. are suddenly vulnerable in every game. It does mean the competitive margin is no longer wide enough for complacency. Other countries now feature players from the WNBA or U.S. colleges, and that raises the level of every major international event.
China provide the first test
China are a fitting first opponent because they are not here simply to make up the numbers. As 2022 silver medalists, they give the U.S. an immediate test of focus and execution in Berlin.
And without Wilson, the spotlight shifts even more strongly onto the rest of the roster. This is still a team built around elite talent, but the opening game will be about how quickly the U.S. settle into tournament rhythm and whether the standard remains high from the start.
For Stewart and the rest of the group, the task is clear. The U.S. can still be the team everyone else measures themselves against, but this World Cup is another reminder that every game now demands the full level of attention. If that sounds like a warning, it is. If it sounds like preparation for Los Angeles, that is exactly what it should be.
