Two practice sessions. That is how much time together Team USA got to prepare for the FIBA Women’s World Cup. Yet, they managed to dominate two of the three opponents they faced in the last four days, including a thumping 105-64 win over Czechia on Monday. But there have been holes in their game, and after Monday’s victory, Dallas Wings coach Jose Fernandez, who was on scouting duties for the team, highlighted why Team USA is an absurd outlier in the tournament.

Latvian journalist Maris Noviks asked Fernandez whether half-court offense is the team’s biggest weakness.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Fernandez told Noviks. “I mean, the biggest thing is that a lot of these teams have been together, and they’ve had a lot of time to practice. You know, our (Dallas Wings) last game was on – what, when was it? Like Sunday (August 30) against Connecticut; it was at like 7:30.

“Paige (Bueckers) and I got on a plane on Monday. We got here on Tuesday. We had, like, a really, really light day on Tuesday, and then we only had two other practices, and then we’re playing, right? So, it’s a short time to prepare.”

Team USA includes players from eight different WNBA teams. FIBA World Cup and other signature tournaments are usually preceded by training camps and exercises where teams build chemistry. But the stringent schedule of the W didn’t afford the luxury of extended time for the US team before the World Cup, and this is what Jose Fernandez believes is the outlier between Team USA and other nations in the current World Cup.

“The last time we were together was, you know, in Puerto Rico for the World Cup qualifier (in March), but we had some practices in Miami. We had, like a mini training camp in Puerto Rico. We had some time.”

Fernandez does have a point here. A similar story was there with other US team members and the coaching staff. The Atlanta Dream and Minnesota Lynx also played games on Sunday, August 30, and so did the Valkyries. So not just Paige Bueckers and coach Jose Fernandez, but players like Napheessa Collier, Rhyne Howard, and Angel Reese had to make the trip to Germany shortly after playing a league game.

The WNBA teams temporarily suspended the contracts of several international players who headed to join their national team camps for the World Cup. Some of the players joined their national squads several days before the World Cup started. But the absence of perfect harmony nearly cost them against Italy on Sunday.

Team USA was facing down the barrel of an upset, eventually winning 55-52. That was the team’s lowest-scoring game since 1967. Every aspect, on or off the court, becomes important for a team like USA, which is chasing its fifth straight World Cup title. However, the tight schedule and a lack of training did not stop them from rolling into the quarterfinals after the victory over Italy.

Moreover, the latest win against Czechia should soothe Jose Fernandez.

This game was a marked contrast to Team USA’s earlier outing. Behind an early spark from Breanna Stewart, USA cruised past Czechia 105–64 on September 7 at Berlin Arena. After Czechia briefly led for 14 seconds in the opening minute, the Americans seized total command, leading after every quarter and steadily stretching an early double-digit cushion into an emphatic blowout.

Stewart spearheaded the American charge, racking up 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in just under 17 minutes. Operating with clinical precision, Stewart registered a stellar 31 efficiency rating, per FIBA, without coughing up a single turnover, shooting 8-of-11 from the floor. Her rapid eight-point surge in the final three minutes of the opening quarter decisively tipped momentum in Team USA’s favor.

The supporting cast delivered the rest of the firepower. Angel Reese brought high-energy play on both ends with 13 points, six rebounds, and three steals in 19 minutes, while Napheesa Collier chipped in 12 points and six boards in under 16 minutes.

Paige Bueckers orchestrated the perimeter cleanly, pairing 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting with five assists and zero turnovers to finish with a team-high +27 plus/minus. Inside, Kiki Iriafen anchored the glass off the bench, hauling in a team-leading 11 rebounds to go with seven points in just 14 minutes.

For Czechia, Eliska Joklova was a bright spot, matching Stewart with a team-best 19 points alongside three boards and two assists in just over 24 minutes.

Team USA will hope to keep this dominance going as we enter the knockout stage of the World Cup, with their next game scheduled for Sept. 10, and the opponent has yet to be finalized from the group stages.