Team USA enters World Cup semifinals amid shifting international competition

Team USA continues its FIBA World Cup campaign, reaching the semifinals as the squad adjusts to an increasingly competitive global field. Managing director Sue Bird, a five-time gold medalist, oversees a roster navigating both injury concerns and a evolving international where teams like France and Italy have pushed the United States in recent play. Key players including A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are absent from the tournament roster, with Wilson managing injuries to prioritize the remainder of the WNBA season. FIBA opponents have benefited from increased experience, with players like Cecilia Zandalasini logging significant WNBA minutes and coaches like Mike Thibault leading foreign national teams. As the U.S. looks to defend its four-tournament gold medal streak, the program must balance its historical dominance with the reality of tightened competition and a challenging calendar for WNBA athletes.

• 11:46 AMYahoo Sports — Team USA helped raise the bar on worldwide competition. Now it must stay ahead