USA opens FIBA qualifiers strong

Team USA routed Puerto Rico 91–48 at the Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan on March 12, 2026, with official attendance recorded at 5,568. (fiba.basketball) Paige Bueckers led the U.S. attack with 16 points while Kelsey Plum scored 12 and Angel Reese posted a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double off the bench. (sportingnews.com) Head coach Kara Lawson opened with Paige Bueckers, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, Monique Billings and Kiki Iriafen as a new starting five and said she will continue to tinker with rotations after the game. (espn.com) The U.S. committed 14 turnovers against Puerto Rico, a problem Lawson and players flagged as part of the team’s chemistry work during the qualifying window. (espn.com) The victory pushed Team USA to 2–0 in the San Juan qualifying tournament as the staff uses the games — despite the U.S. already having a World Cup berth — to test lineups and allocate minutes. (sportingnews.com) The box score showed the U.S. shot 52 percent from the field and built a largest lead of 43 points in the second half, stats the staff will weigh when balancing veteran minutes and trying younger combinations. (fiba.basketball)