Team USA hit with brutal criticism: "Hard for me to be proud of this, because even the refs are on our side"
Rachel DeMita tore into the Americans after their narrow 55-52 escape against Italy.
Team USA remained unbeaten at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup with a 55-52 victory over Italy, but former college basketball player Rachel DeMita was far from impressed.
"It’s hard for me to be proud of this as a USA fan, because even if I’m looking at this game objectively, the refs are on our side," DeMita said.
"Italy came out with spark, with fire, with passion… Did they play perfectly? No, they played far from perfect. Italy had 18 turnovers on the night. They had 12 in the first half, and USA only wins by three?"
DeMita couldn't understand how Team USA failed to take greater advantage.
"You mean to tell me a team turns the ball over 18 times in a game and you win by three? Italy shoots 37% from the field, 37%, and USA only wins by three? Italy shoots 13% from three; they made two threes on the night and, USA wins by three?"
Team USA struggles despite major statistical advantages
The Americans had beaten Italy 93-59 during World Cup qualifying, making Sunday's result even more surprising.
Their 55 points were also Team USA's lowest total in a Women's World Cup game since 1971.
DeMita pointed directly to the free throw and foul numbers as another reason the performance concerned her.
"[Team USA were] not able to capitalize on [Italy] shooting so poorly from the field and from the three-point line, and 70% from the free-throw line," she said.
"Italy had 22 team fouls to USA’s 14. USA shot 10 more free throws than Italy did. Both teams shot 70% from the free-throw line."
Team USA still trailed 50-48 with 4:29 remaining before Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Breanna Stewart helped close the game on a 7-0 run.
Kara Lawson delivers her own warning
Coach Kara Lawson was hardly satisfied either.
"Let this be the last time that a team plays with more passion than throughout the course of the game," Lawson told her players afterward.
She then delivered an even stronger message.
"Let this be the last time that all 12 don’t show up to compete at a high level, and then let this be the last time that we lack that resilient mindset because we’re so upset that we’re not scoring the way we normally score."
Team USA escaped with the win. But between DeMita's statistical takedown and Lawson's own warning, nobody around the Americans appeared interested in pretending it was good enough.
