USA women’s national team head coach Kara Lawson issued a heartfelt apology to fans Sunday following Team USA’s hard-fought but underwhelming 76-66 victory over Spain in the FIBA Women’s World Cup semi-finals in Berlin.
Despite advancing to the championship game against France, the Americans struggled for three quarters and left many supporters frustrated with the lack of dominance expected from the perennial powerhouse.
“I owe our fans an apology,” Lawson said in a post-game statement. “We know the standard of USA Basketball is excellence every single night. What we showed for long stretches against Spain was not good enough. We made it harder than it needed to be, and I take full responsibility for that. Our fans deserve better.”
The game remained tight throughout. Spain tied the contest at 58 entering the fourth quarter before the U.S. finally pulled away with a 12-2 run and limited Spain to just eight points in the final period. Breanna Stewart led the Americans with 16 points, while Kahleah Copper added 13. Yet the overall performance drew sharp criticism, particularly over rotation decisions and the limited involvement of younger stars like Caitlin Clark.
Fans voiced disappointment across social media, questioning why a team stacked with talent needed to dig so deep against a Spain side that had already shown it could compete. Some called the first 30 minutes “embarrassing” and demanded accountability from the coaching staff.
Lawson, who was named head coach of the national team in 2025, acknowledged the concerns. “We got the win, and that’s what matters most right now as we prepare for the final. But the process wasn’t what we demand of ourselves. We will be better. I promise our supporters we will clean this up.”
The narrow margin marked one of the closer contests for the U.S. in recent World Cup play, even as the program continues its long winning streak in the tournament. Lawson emphasized pride in representing the country, especially so close to the anniversary of September 11, and said the team remains focused on bringing home gold.
With the final set for Sunday against a familiar French squad, Lawson’s apology signals a clear message: the standard remains high, and excuses will not be accepted. Team USA will look to respond with a championship performance that restores the confidence of its loyal fans.
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