Toronto, Canada • July 16-20, 2015

After falling to host Canada in the gold medal game, the 2015 U.S. Pan American Women’s Basketball Team returned home from Toronto, Canada, with a silver medal.

In its opening game on July 16, the USA rallied to secure a 75-69 win over Brazil. Brazil had a two-point lead (48-46) after a 14-0 run in the third period, but two made free throws by Moriah Jefferson and a three-point play from Breanna Stewart helped the USA to close the quarter by outscoring Brazil 11-2 to regain control of the game. Stewart led the USA with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and she shot 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Jefferson finished with 21 points and three assists, and she was 4-of-4 from the line. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough rounded out the USA’s double-digit scorers with 10 points on 2-of-3 shooting from 3-point.

The USA’s depth was on full display during its lopsided 94-55 win over Dominican Republic on July 17. Ten of the USA’s 11 available players recorded at least 12 minutes and scored in the game, five scored in double digits and the USA had 27 assists on 37 made field goals. Stewart led the USA with 16 points; Alaina Coates was a perfect 6-of-6 from the field on her way to 14 points; Stephanie Mavunga contributed 13 points; and Caroline Coyer and Walker-Kimbrough added 11 points apiece. Additionally, Taya Reimer and Sophie Brunner each grabbed six rebounds, while Kelsey Plum dished out a game-high five assists.

Playing at Ryerson Athletic Center, the USA was without guard Tiffany Mitchell for the duration of the tournament after Mitchell sprained her left ankle during a scrimmage against Canada on July 14. 

Its final preliminary round game on July 18, the USA outscored Puerto Rico 26-13 over the last 10 minutes to earn a 93-77 victory and secure a No. 1 seed heading into the medal semifinals. The USA was paced by Stewart, who was 4-of-5 from 3-point on her way to 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Coates, who had a double-double by halftime and finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Jefferson rounded out the USA’s double-digit scorers with 14 points and a game-high six assists.

Two made free throws and a last-second steal from Linnae Harper helped the USA survive its semifinal game against Cuba with a 65-64 win that advanced the USA into the gold medal game. The USA trailed by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, but battled back, thanks in part to a press that forced seven Cuban turnovers in the third period alone, to go up by four points (61-57) in the fourth quarter after a 3-pointer from Harper with 2:52 remaining. Cuba responded with a 5-0 run, however, and led 62-61 with 1:36 on the clock. Coates, who finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds, scored an offensive put back at 47.2 seconds, but again, Cuba had an answer with a steal and layup at 13.3 seconds to go ahead 64-63. On the USA’s final possession, Harper drove to the basket and was fouled, and she made both free throws to give the USA its 65-64 lead with 7.7 seconds left in the game. Cuba had one more opportunity, but as Cuba’s Oyanaisy Gelis attacked the rim, Harper stole the ball and secured the U.S. victory. Harper finished with a game-high 16 points and four steals; Walker-Kimbrough had 15 point and four steals; Jefferson had 12 points, five assists and six rebounds; and Stewart contributed 10 points and five rebounds.

In the gold medal game, the USA led by as many as 11 points early in the second quarter but saw its lead erased by halftime when the score was 36-all, before a 26-15 third-quarter advantage gave Canada the lead for good and an eventual 81-73 win. Four U.S. players scored in double-digits, but 17 points and 11 rebounds from Stewart and a U.S. Women’s Pan American record 10-of-10 night at the free throw line from Harper, were not enough to help the USA overcome 33 points from rising University of Connecticut sophomore Kia Nurse, who also was 11-of-12 from the free throw line for Canada. Harper finished the game with 16 points, Jefferson added 14 points and Reimer was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity strip on her way to 10 points.

Stewart played in her second Pan American Games after also suiting up for the USA in 2011.

Canada’s tournament championship was its first women’s basketball gold medal in Pan American Games history.

Cuba edged out Brazil 66-62 for the bronze medal.

2015 USA WOMEN'S PAN AMERICAN GAMES TEAM ROSTER

2015 USA WOMEN'S PAN AMERICAN GAMES TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS