DiJonai Carrington had to watch from home as Team USA fought through a difficult game against Italy at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on Sunday.
The Americans entered the matchup after cruising past China in their tournament opener, but Italy presented a much tougher challenge. Team USA struggled to establish an offensive rhythm throughout the game and needed a late push to escape with a 55-52 win.
It was a poor outing offensively for the United States. The Americans shot just 16-for-56 from the field, good for 28.6%, and made only 1 of 12 attempts from 3-point range. Breanna Stewart scored five points on 1-for-9 shooting, while Kahleah Copper went 0-for-4. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, who starred in the opener, finished with just one point. Jackie Young was the team’s most efficient player, scoring 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
After watching the game, Carrington took to her Instagram Stories with a strong message for Young.
She reshared a photo of a fan holding a placard that read: “Give Jackie Young her flowers.”
Carrington and Young are reportedly in a relationship. The two WNBA stars have frequently been seen supporting each other, including Carrington being courtside during Young’s USA Basketball run earlier this year.
Young certainly gave Carrington plenty to celebrate Sunday. The Las Vegas Aces guard was the only U.S. player to make more than two field goals, while adding four rebounds and three assists.
The win moved Team USA to 2-0 and guaranteed the Americans a place in the tournament’s next stage. The U.S. will close group play Monday against Czechia at 2:45 p.m. ET, with a win securing the top spot in Group D.
