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Team USA basketball stunned by Dominican Republic in baffling World Cup Qualifier loss originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Team USA is trying to qualify for the men's basketball FIBA World Cup, and the timing of this qualification always means that the U.S. roster has to rely on players who aren't in the NBA.
Still, though, the United States has a quality roster. They're not expected to lose much, if ever, even in these games.
On Thursday night, though, the U.S. lost to the Dominican Republic, 87-79. It's a stunning result regardless of circumstance.
The Dominican Republic's entire roster includes 15 minutes of NBA experience, from Angel Delgado in 2019.
The U.S. roster, coached by Stephen Silas, includes Brandon Knight, Elfrid Payton, James Wiseman, David Roddy, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and more.
The loss leaves the U.S. tied atop their group, still with a decent amount of wiggle room to qualify for the World Cup, given that seven teams in the Americas zone will be a part of the field.
Still, it puts a little more pressure on their upcoming game against Mexico (which is tied with the U.S. and D.R. at the top of their group standings). Team USA can't really afford back-to-back losses.
Shocker at FIBA men's World Cup Qualifiers: the Dominican Republic beats the US for the 1st time since 1989
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) February 27, 2026
US team NBA vets include Elfrid Payton, James Wiseman & Brandon Knight
Dominican team total NBA experience: Angel Delgado, 15 minutes in 2019
🇩🇴pic.twitter.com/pBQ2xn0B5n
Knight ended the matchup on Thursday with a team-high 20 points. Payton added nine points and six assists.
The Dominican Republic dominated the U.S. on the glass, grabbing 16 offensive rebounds to help make the difference.
“It is disappointing because we did have a good camp, to come out here and lose this game is disappointing," Silas told USA Basketball.
It's obviously an odd situation for these players, trying to qualify for a tournament they'll never actually play in, because the NBA guys show up for the World Cup games themselves.
Still, the U.S. needs to find a way to bounce back, because even a hint of potentially missing that tournament would be unprecedented.
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