{
  "id": 6312571,
  "title": "Paige Bueckers Joins Breanna Stewart as She Ties Team USA Blocks Lead With Fierce Defensive Stunt",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/paige-bueckers-joins-breanna-stewart-as-she-ties-team-usa-blocks-lead",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-08T19:15:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/paige-bueckers-joins-breanna-stewart-191509221.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Team USA head coach Kara Lawson faced criticism for her preference for young stars over more experienced players, but Paige Bueckers and Breanna Stewart are proving her choices were correct. Following a 55-52 win against Italy, Team USA secured an impressive victory over Czechia on Monday, with Bueckers and Stewart dominating in defense and securing the team's lead in blocks. During a highlighted play, Stewart blocked Petra Holesinska's layup, followed by another block from Bueckers. Despite the absence of key players A'Ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum due to injury, Bueckers and Stewart stepped up to the plate, with Stewart expected to lead the team as a seasoned veteran. Bueckers, making her World Cup debut with the senior squad, downplayed the pressure and saw the challenge as a positive for both her and the team's long-term growth.",
  "summary": "Team USA’s head coach Kara Lawson may have been under fire because of her preference for using the young stars in her squad rather than those who are already experienced, but Paige Bueckers and Breanna Stewart are proving that she’s not making the wrong decisions. Following their close 55-52 win against Italy on Sunday, Team [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "Paige Bueckers and Breanna Stewart lead Team USA in blocks",
    "Stewart blocks Holesinska's layup, Bueckers follows with block",
    "Bueckers debuts with senior squad, downplays pressure"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}