USA Advances to FIBA AmeriCup Gold Medal Game with Win over Canada

09 July 2023

USA 67, CAN 63

The USA has advanced to the gold medal game of the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup with a 67-63 victory over Canada on Saturday night in Leon, Mexico. Before tipping off, the life of USA Olympic and World Cup champion Nikki McCray-Penson, who passed away Friday at age 51, was honored with a moment of silence.

The U.S. will be back in action Sunday to face Brazil for the gold medal. The final will air live on Courtside 1891 at 8:30 p.m. ET. USA games stream free to subscribers in the U.S..

The United States will play in its sixth overall, and third-straight, gold medal game. The USA is 4-1 all-time in gold medal games. The USA and Brazil will tip off for the third time in a championship game, splitting the title games in 1993 (USA) and 1997 (Brazil). The USA will look to tie Brazil’s record of five FIBA AmeriCup gold medals. The United States will face Brazil for the ninth time in FIBA Americas competition and for the second this week. Brazil has an all-time series edge of 3-5 and won the July 4 Group A matchup 67-54.

Since the event’s inception in 1989, the United States has captured four Women’s AmeriCup gold medals, including titles in 2019 and 2021.

View the USA-Canada box score here.

TEAM NOTES

Historically Speaking: The U.S. now own a 6-1 record against Canada. The USA is 35-8 overall in the Women’s AmeriCup.

In the Beginning: For the third game in a row, the USA employed a starting lineup of Rickea Jackson, Raven Johnson, Charisma Osborne, Laila Phelia and Angel Reese. Jackson, Osborne and Reese have started all six games, while Phelia has started three.

Back-and-Forth: Leading by as many as 12 points before going to the halftime locker room, the USA had a with a 39-29 lead. Canada stormed back in the third quarter, pulling to within one at 45-44 USA with 4:02 to go. As they did to earlier Canadian runs, the Americans responded with an 8-2 spurt to lead 53-46 at the 1:20 mark. However, Canada wouldn’t go away, opening the fourth quarter 16-5 and taking a 61-58 lead with 6:01 to play. The USA scored the next four and retook the lead 62-61 with 4:33. The lead changed again, 63-62 Canada, at 3:01 before the USA responded on the next two possessions and forced a Canada timeout at 1:56 with a 66-63 lead.

To the Depths: The USA has scored 210 bench points through six games (35.0 ppg), making it the second-highest scoring bench in the competition behind Brazil (37.7, 226 in six games). Lauren Betts has come off the bench in five of six games and averages 11.7 points and 10.8 rebounds.

Swat Show: Entering the game, the USA led all teams with 29 blocks through five contests. The Americans wasted no time pestering Canada near the hoop, recording six blocks in the first half, led by three from Betts. Betts and Reese finished the game with three blocks while Osborne had two.

The squad topped the mark for most blocks by a U.S. team (33, 2021) with their fifth block of the first half and became just the second team since 2003 to record 30+ blocks at the tournament. The final block tally for the game was nine, which marks the most in a single game by the U.S. at the Women’s AmeriCup.

The Quicker Picker Upper: The U.S. is the top rebounding team in the AmeriCup, leading the competition in total rebounds (343) and rebounds per game (57.2). In 2021, the USA set team records in both categories (397 total, 57.8 rpg).

Shot Chart: The USA shot 38.8% (26-67 FG, 3-13 3FG) from the field, while holding Canada to 35.1% (26-74 FG, 2-12 3FG)..

PLAYER NOTES

It’s All About Balance: Six Americans contributed at least six points tonight, led by 12 from Betts, 11 from Jackson and 10 from Reese. Janiah Barker added nine points and six rebounds, Deja Kelly had eight points and Osborne seven.

You’re in the Way: Betts blocked her first of three shots at the 3:49 mark of the first quarter and became the USA’s all-time AmeriCup blocks leader, breaking Aliyah Boston’s record of 11 set in 2021. Betts now has 14 blocks this week.

Records are Made to be Broken: Betts and Reese have been cleaning up the boards throughout the competition with Betts setting the USA AmeriCup record of 61 rebounds in the quarterfinals vs. Colombia on Friday. Reese entered today’s game with 59 total boards, and came down with 13 today, to reset the U.S. AmeriCup rebounds record with 72 through six games.

Ms. Jackson: Jackson recorded 11 points (5-8 FG) and six rebounds. She’s scored in double-figures in each outing and is averaging a team-best 13.3 points in the competition. She has scored 80 points through six games, becoming the sixth American to score 80+ points at the event. Jackson joins Sylvia Fowles (82, 6 games, 2019), Chamique Holdsclaw (95, 5 games, 1997), Lisa Leslie (129, 7 games, 1993), Ruthie Bolton (100, 7 games, 1993) and Venus Lacey (92, 7 games, 1989).