Team USA basketball coach Kara Lawson honors 9/11 before World Cup finals

Team USA women's basketball coach Kara Lawson wants her squad to offer Americans another reason to come together during a heavy weekend for the nation. The United States reached the FIBA Women's World Cup finals with a 76-66 win over Spain in Berlin on Saturday. This happened just one day after the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Lawson told reporters that winning the title would hold extra weight following such a somber date.

I think, you know, being a part of USA Basketball for so long, there's a great pride in it, she said. I mean, from when I was 17 years old until now, being a part of it in different capacities, you know, I think, I don't know if there's anyone prouder to represent the U.S. than I am in this capacity. And so we think about that. And I felt the presence of the U.S. here, even though we are in Europe. I felt it, and certainly felt it yesterday in 9/11 and, you know, a somber anniversary.

The 2001 attacks killed nearly 3,000 people at locations including New York City, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Remembrance ceremonies took place across the country on Friday. Lawson called this day a powerful memory that stays with her team long after the date passes. And it's something that was, you know, a powerful memory, and something that is on our minds, certainly on that day, but really other days as well, she said. It would mean a ton to win a World Cup for our country. We're proud to be Americans, and we're proud to represent USA. And to win a World Cup would be an amazing thing.

Lawson also noted the team's influence goes beyond the women's basketball community which has seen heated rivalries lately. And as far as unity, I think unity is not just exclusive to the women's basketball community, Lawson said. I think it's unity for our country as well. I think our team hopefully is creating unity across our country. People being proud about how we play and how we represent the red, white and blue.

Her path with USA Basketball started as a teenager. She later helped Americans win Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008. She also coached the U.S. to its first women's 3x3 basketball gold medal at Tokyo. Later she served as an assistant on the team that won gold in Paris in 2024. USA Basketball picked Lawson in 2025 to lead the women's national team through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. She is now one victory away from winning her first major international championship as head coach of the five-on-five senior team.

The Americans had to fight hard for that chance on Saturday. Spain tied the semifinal at 58 entering the fourth quarter. The U.S. then held Spain to eight points in the final period and used a 12-2 run to pull away. Breanna Stewart led Team USA with 16 points. Kahleah Copper added 13, while Jackie Young finished with 12. The victory extended the Americans' World Cup winning streak to 35 games. The U.S. has not lost in the tournament since falling to Russia in the 2006 semifinals.

Team USA will face France in Sunday's championship game after the French defeated host Germany 86-64 in the other semifinal. The matchup will be a rematch of the 2024 Olympic gold-medal game in Paris. The U.S. escaped that contest with a 67-66 victory after France's Gabby Williams made a shot with her foot on the 3-point line as time expired. France entered the World Cup final undefeated and moved ahead of the U.S. in FIBA's final power ranking after group play.

The United States is chasing a fifth straight World Cup title and their twelfth in total history. They face France, who will play in its very first final. For Team USA guard Paige Bueckers, faith has stayed a central piece of this entire journey. She has talked openly about her Christian beliefs during both college and pro years. Reporters asked how her connection to Jesus Christ has shaped the tournament experience for her.

"My faith has always been important to me," Bueckers said. "It's carried me through life. It's been my rock, my foundation. So, I take that with me wherever I go.