Italy reached its meeting with Team USA on the back of a comeback that changed the mood around the team. Sara Madera helped turn a 19-26 deficit against Cechia into a 63-54 win, then said the group was heading into the next game with nothing to lose.
Madera spoke after a morning shooting session at the Max Schmeling Halle, where Italy was preparing for Team USA. She said the victory over Cechia had given the side confidence, but the real shift was in how it approached the next test: not by fearing the opponent, but by trying to control what it could.
That begins with the way Italy has worked. Madera said the team focused on what it can do better and made adjustments aimed at Team USA’s players, while also trying different defenses and attacks to put some sand in their gears. It is a practical answer to a hard problem. Team USA is described inside the team as highly talented and strong, but Italy’s response is to stay loose, play its own game and accept the risk that comes with that approach.
The confidence comes from more than the scoreline. Madera said there was a large Italian crowd at the arena against Cechia, and that the reception outside the hotel was so strong it still gave her chills. That kind of support matters because Italy is not walking into the next game as a side trying to survive; it is walking in after proving it can come back under pressure and still finish the job.
At the same time, the margin for error remains thin. Madera said the match against Team USA would be an emotion to live and another very tough game the next day, a reminder that the win over Cechia was a step and not a destination. Italy may have found its voice, but the real test is whether those adjustments are enough to keep the game from running on the terms of a stronger opponent.
For now, Italy’s position is clear: it has momentum, it has belief and it has no reason to hold back. The next answer will come on the court, where Madera said the team plans to give 101% and see what that buys it against Team USA.
