USA vs Brazil AmeriCup Clash: Was This the Turning Point for Women’s Basketball?

July 7, 2025: The United States women’s basketball team stunned defending champions Brazil with a 92–84 victory in the Women’s AmeriCup Final, reclaiming the continental crown and earning direct qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Held at the Centro de Deportes Colectivos in Santiago, Chile, the win marks Team USA’s fifth title and their third in the last four editions of the tournament.

Under head coach Kara Lawson, the U.S. squad controlled the game with aggressive defense and fast-paced offense. A decisive 11–3 run early in the fourth quarter broke the game open, giving the Americans a 76–69 lead they never relinquished.

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Point guard Hannah Hidalgo iced the game with three clutch free throws in the final seconds. Mikayla Blakes was the standout performer, dropping 27 points — the most by a U.S. player in the tournament since 2003 — along with 6 rebounds and 2 steals. The 19-year-old was named tournament MVP and led the scoring in six of seven games.

Hidalgo added 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, earning her a spot alongside Blakes in the All-Star Five, which also included Brazil’s Damiris Dantas and Kamilla Cardoso, and Canada’s Syla Swords.

Despite the loss, Dantas delivered a historic performance with 35 points — a new single-game AmeriCup record since 2003. Cardoso added 19 points but faced foul trouble, while Bella Nascimento impressed with 24 points, hitting five 3-pointers.

Depth was Team USA’s secret weapon. Their bench outscored Brazil’s 35–1, and they dominated the stats: 46–35 in rebounds, 46–26 in paint points, 21–3 in fast break points, and 22–9 in points off turnovers.

Olivia Miles also made history, dishing out nine assists in the final to finish with 50 total — a new Women’s AmeriCup tournament record, surpassing Cuba’s Ineidis Casanova’s previous mark of 46.