Breya Cunningham Controls Paint, Helps Guide USA to Quarterfinals

Arizona Women’s Basketball freshman Breya Cunningham helps to guide Team USA to the U19 World Cup Quarterfinals in Madrid.

With the U-19 Team USA Squad taking on the World in Madrid at the U19 World Cup, future Wildcat Breya Cunningham has taken her game to the world’s stage helping guide the squad to the quarterfinal round.

Coming into her matchup with Argentina in the Round of 16, Cunningham was averaging just over 8 points, 9 rebounds, and a block per game. And she was looking to further showcase just why Arizona Women’s Basketball fans should be excited when she takes to the court in Tucson this fall.

By halftime, Breya had already matched her average point total, and nearly matched her block total for the tournament, with 8 points, and a pair of blocks, while also chipping in with a pair of rebounds for good measure.

The second half saw Cunningham’s production slow, as the Argentinians turned the game into a bit of harder contact, so Breya found herself in a bit of foul trouble as the Argentina National team targeted the post players to draw fouls against.

Despite the flow of the game changing, Cunningham was still able to make her presence felt in the post, providing strong play by allowing other players to get open looks and continuing to be a shot disruptor. For the game she finished with 10 points, to go along with five rebounds, two blocks, and an assist, as Team USA went on to defeat Argentina 112-36.

Breya and Team USA are back in action on Friday as they take on Czechia (formerly the Czech Republic).

Cunningham passes the eye test with flying colors

Now I won’t deny that this is my first time watching the USA squad in the World Cup, and have sparingly seen highlights of Cunningham’s game; however, it would not shock me at all to see her immediately enter the Wildcat starting lineup.

Breya certainly looks the part, as she appears to be an impact player similar to Aari McDonald, Sam Thomas, and Cate Reese in that she could very well go down in Wildcat history as the next great cornerstone and star.

She has a fluidity to her game that I’m not quite sure we’ve seen from the Wildcats in the post in a long time, and her control of the defensive paint is reminiscent of an Oumar Ballo, where if you don’t come in stronger, then you aren’t getting by her.

Cunningham is very much a new-age post player, as she possesses strong vision and passing to go right along with her scoring and defensive prowess!

Here’s just a small preview of what we could see in Tucson next season!

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