Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young helped keep USA Basketball perfect Sunday in Puerto Rico, powering a 101-46 blowout of New Zealand at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament.
New Zealand landed the first punch and still led 12-11 with 3:17 left in the opening quarter. Then the Americans slammed the door. The U.S. closed the period on a 16-0 run to take a 27-12 lead and never let the Kiwis back into the game.
The U.S. rolled to a 54-18 halftime advantage, pushed it to 78-39 after three, then finished with a 23-7 fourth quarter. Gray posted 5 points, 5 assists and 2 steals, while Young added 8 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists. Rhyne Howard led the Americans with 18 points, and every U.S. player who got into the game scored at least 4.
For Aces fans, it was a familiar look: Gray directing traffic, Young doing a little of everything and the scoreboard getting out of hand fast.
Gustafson Keeps Producing, Italy Cashes the Qualifying Ticket
Megan Gustafson put up another steady line for Spain, but Italy finished stronger and earned a World Cup berth with a 68-56 win.
Italy led 15-13 after one and 28-26 at the half in a game that stayed tight and tense. Spain came out of the locker room with a 3-pointer and built a 40-34 lead midway through the third quarter before Italy answered. Spain tied it 41-41 with 2:30 left in the period, but Italy took the lead on its next possession and stayed in front the rest of the way, holding Spain at arm’s length in the fourth.
Gustafson led Spain with 12 points, 6 rebounds and an assist. Cecilia Zandalasini scored a game-high 22 for Italy.
Tuesday Brings the Aces-on-Aces Collision
The Aces trio closes qualifying play Tuesday when the U.S. faces Spain at 2 p.m. PT. It’s Gray and Young in red, white and blue against Gustafson’s Spain, with both teams already in the World Cup field and still playing for momentum heading out of Puerto Rico.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
