Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus #12 Louisville on March 8, 2026 , Win , 70, to, 65 , OT
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Final
Women's Basketball
70
vs #12 Louisville
65
Photo by: USA Basketball
Lawson, Gray Open FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament Wednesday
3/10/2026 11:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – Duke women's basketball head coach Kara Lawson will make her debut as the USA Women's Basketball National Team coach Wednesday when the United States open play at the FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Former Duke standout Chelsea Gray also will represent the Blue Devils on the court as the U.S. prepares for the World Cup. The Americans are one of five teams to have already qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup, which will be held in September in Berlin, after winning the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup.
Lawson recently led the eighth-ranked Blue Devils to both the ACC regular season and ACC Tournament titles. Duke repeated as ACC Tournament Champions, becoming the first team to do so since NC State won from 2020-22. It was the 10th tournament title, tying the for the most in ACC history.
The U.S. roster includes veteran USA players Kahleah Copper, Gray, Dearica Hamby and Plum, all of whom participated in the previous 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. Copper, Gray and Plum were a members of the 2022 USA Women's World Cup Team that won gold. Hamby brings a wealth of USA 3x3 National Team experience as a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist.
Vs. Senegal (March 11 | 5 p.m. ET | TruTV/HBOMax):
The U.S. will take on Senegal in their first game on Wednesday, March 11, at 5 p.m. ET. This will be the eighth meeting between the teams, with the red, white and blue holding a perfect 7-0 record. In their most recent matchup during the 2024 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the Americans came away with a 101-39 win. Rhyne Howard led the team with 25 points and five rebounds.
Vs. Puerto Rico (March 12 | 8 p.m. ET | TruTV/HBOMax):
On Thursday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET, the Americans will take on the host nation Puerto Rico in their second qualifier game. The two teams met last year during the FIBA Women's AmeriCup, where the U.S. earned an 80-62 victory.
Vs. Italy (March 14 | 5 p.m. ET | TruTV/HBOMax):
Game three will see the Americans take on Italy on Saturday, March 14, at 5 p.m. ET. It will be the first contest between the teams since the 1979 World Championships. The U.S. are 1-1 against Italy, as the 1979 matchup saw the red, white and blue earn their first win over the Italians 66-64. Italy will be making their World Cup Qualifying debut.
Vs. New Zealand (March 15 | 2 p.m. ET | TruTV/HBOMax):
The U.S. return in action on Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m. ET against New Zealand. The Ferns will also be making their World Cup Qualifying debut. The Americans hold a 4-0 advantage over New Zealand. The matchup will be the first game since 2008 between the two nations where the U.S. came away with a 96-60 win during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Vs. Spain (March 17 | 5 p.m. ET | TNT/HBOMax):
The Americans will wrap up the tournament against Spain on Tuesday, March 17, at 5 p.m. ET. The U.S. are 10-0 against Spain, with the last meeting during the 2016 Rio Olympics in the gold-medal game. That win secured the U.S. their sixth straight Olympic gold medal and eighth overall at the time.
The 2026 ACC Tournament Champions await the announcement of their next opponent when the field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament is announced March 15 at 8 p.m., on ESPN. The Top 16 teams selected to host the opening rounds will be announced by the NCAA March 14.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB".
#GoDuke
Former Duke standout Chelsea Gray also will represent the Blue Devils on the court as the U.S. prepares for the World Cup. The Americans are one of five teams to have already qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup, which will be held in September in Berlin, after winning the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup.
Lawson recently led the eighth-ranked Blue Devils to both the ACC regular season and ACC Tournament titles. Duke repeated as ACC Tournament Champions, becoming the first team to do so since NC State won from 2020-22. It was the 10th tournament title, tying the for the most in ACC history.
The U.S. roster includes veteran USA players Kahleah Copper, Gray, Dearica Hamby and Plum, all of whom participated in the previous 2022 World Cup Qualifiers. Copper, Gray and Plum were a members of the 2022 USA Women's World Cup Team that won gold. Hamby brings a wealth of USA 3x3 National Team experience as a 2024 Olympic bronze medalist.
Vs. Senegal (March 11 | 5 p.m. ET | TruTV/HBOMax):
The U.S. will take on Senegal in their first game on Wednesday, March 11, at 5 p.m. ET. This will be the eighth meeting between the teams, with the red, white and blue holding a perfect 7-0 record. In their most recent matchup during the 2024 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the Americans came away with a 101-39 win. Rhyne Howard led the team with 25 points and five rebounds.
Vs. Puerto Rico (March 12 | 8 p.m. ET | TruTV/HBOMax):
On Thursday, March 12, at 8 p.m. ET, the Americans will take on the host nation Puerto Rico in their second qualifier game. The two teams met last year during the FIBA Women's AmeriCup, where the U.S. earned an 80-62 victory.
Vs. Italy (March 14 | 5 p.m. ET | TruTV/HBOMax):
Game three will see the Americans take on Italy on Saturday, March 14, at 5 p.m. ET. It will be the first contest between the teams since the 1979 World Championships. The U.S. are 1-1 against Italy, as the 1979 matchup saw the red, white and blue earn their first win over the Italians 66-64. Italy will be making their World Cup Qualifying debut.
Vs. New Zealand (March 15 | 2 p.m. ET | TruTV/HBOMax):
The U.S. return in action on Sunday, March 15, at 2 p.m. ET against New Zealand. The Ferns will also be making their World Cup Qualifying debut. The Americans hold a 4-0 advantage over New Zealand. The matchup will be the first game since 2008 between the two nations where the U.S. came away with a 96-60 win during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Vs. Spain (March 17 | 5 p.m. ET | TNT/HBOMax):
The Americans will wrap up the tournament against Spain on Tuesday, March 17, at 5 p.m. ET. The U.S. are 10-0 against Spain, with the last meeting during the 2016 Rio Olympics in the gold-medal game. That win secured the U.S. their sixth straight Olympic gold medal and eighth overall at the time.
The 2026 ACC Tournament Champions await the announcement of their next opponent when the field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament is announced March 15 at 8 p.m., on ESPN. The Top 16 teams selected to host the opening rounds will be announced by the NCAA March 14.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's basketball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWBB".
#GoDuke
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