Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers Dominates as She Powers Team USA to Opening Victory Over Chile in FIBA Women’s AmeriCup Showdown

Raegan Beers wasted no time making her presence felt on the international stage, leading Team USA to a dominant opening victory over Chile in the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. The Oklahoma center, known for her relentless motor and imposing post play, showcased every bit of her talent as the Americans rolled to an 85-42 win to kick off their AmeriCup campaign.

Beers, who recently transferred to Oklahoma after a standout start to her college career at Oregon State, delivered a performance that left no doubt about her ability to lead on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-4 center poured in 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and added three assists in just 21 minutes of action, setting the tone early for a Team USA squad brimming with rising stars from across college basketball.

For Beers, this was more than just a game—it was an opportunity to announce herself as one of the premier young bigs in the world while representing her country on one of the sport’s biggest stages.

“It means everything to put on this jersey and compete for Team USA,” Beers said after the game. “We’ve been working hard in camp, and to come out here and start the tournament the right way, playing together, defending, that’s what it’s all about.”

Team USA wasted little time asserting their dominance. Beers, stationed in the low post, was the focal point of the American offense early, bullying her way through double-teams and finishing through contact. Her combination of strength, footwork, and touch around the rim overwhelmed Chile’s undersized frontcourt, setting the tone for a lopsided contest.

After the opening tip, it was clear the Americans were locked in. Beers scored six of Team USA’s first 10 points, including a pair of authoritative finishes off entry passes from UCLA guard Londynn Jones and LSU’s Mikaylah Williams. With Beers commanding attention inside, the perimeter opened up for Team USA’s shooters, and the team capitalized.

By the end of the first quarter, the USA led 22-8, with Beers contributing eight points and five rebounds in just seven minutes of action. Chile, struggling to find rhythm offensively, had no answers for the Americans’ suffocating defense and rebounding prowess.

While Beers was the centerpiece, the American attack was balanced. Jones orchestrated the offense beautifully, finishing with 11 points and six assists, while Williams added 14 points, showing off the versatility that made her one of the nation’s top freshmen last season.

But it was Beers’ interior dominance that defined the night.

Coming off a season where she averaged 17.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game at Oregon State before transferring to Oklahoma, Beers looked every bit like the dominant post presence the Sooners believe can elevate their program back to national prominence. Her presence for Team USA offered a glimpse of what Oklahoma fans can expect when the college season rolls around this fall.

Her head coach at Oklahoma, Jennie Baranczyk, watching proudly from the sidelines in Puerto Rico, emphasized how this experience benefits not only Beers but also the Sooners.

“Raegan’s development in these international competitions is invaluable,” Baranczyk said. “She’s competing against elite talent, learning under pressure, and bringing that experience back to our program. It’s a huge win for her and for Oklahoma.”

In the second quarter, Team USA’s defensive intensity ramped up, forcing turnovers and converting easy transition opportunities. Beers remained a force on the glass, grabbing six more rebounds in the frame and altering multiple shots in the paint. Even when she wasn’t scoring, her presence demanded attention, opening lanes for slashers and spacing the floor.

Chile struggled to cope with the relentless waves of pressure. Despite moments of resilience from forward Fernanda Ovalle, who led Chile with 10 points, the South Americans were simply outmatched. Team USA took a commanding 47-19 lead into halftime, with Beers tallying a first-half double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

The second half saw the Americans maintain their grip on the contest, with Beers sitting for extended stretches as head coach Katrina Merriweather rotated her bench and spread minutes across the roster. Even with Beers on the bench, Team USA’s depth overwhelmed Chile. Players like Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo and Stanford’s JuJu Watkins provided energy and scoring, ensuring the momentum never wavered.

But it was Beers’ early work that laid the foundation.

Her performance drew praise from teammates and analysts alike, with many noting her ability to control the paint, anchor the defense, and facilitate offense as a passer from the block—a skill set that mirrors some of the top post players in women’s basketball globally.

“Raegan’s so tough to guard because she’s not just strong—she’s smart,” Watkins said. “She reads the defense, knows when to score, when to pass. She makes everyone’s job easier.”

The victory marks an encouraging start for Team USA, who enter the AmeriCup as favorites but know the path to gold will include challenges from powerhouses like Brazil and Canada later in the tournament.

Beers’ performance also sends a message to opponents and scouts alike: the USA’s frontcourt is in capable hands.

The tournament offers critical development opportunities for players like Beers, who aspire to represent Team USA in future senior-level competitions, including the FIBA World Cup and Olympic Games. For Beers, the AmeriCup is both a proving ground and a platform to refine her skills against international competition.

“Every game is a learning experience,” Beers said. “We’re focused on getting better each day, building chemistry, and representing our country the right way.”

With her size, skill, and relentless work ethic, Beers is well on her way to becoming a mainstay within the USA Basketball pipeline. Her transfer to Oklahoma only adds intrigue to her rising profile, as fans eagerly anticipate how her international experience will translate to the college game under Baranczyk’s system.

Oklahoma, coming off a strong season in the Big 12, sees Beers as the missing piece—a dominant inside presence capable of elevating the program into the national championship conversation. Her ability to rebound, score efficiently, and impact the defensive end provides a foundation for the Sooners to build around.

Her AmeriCup performance against Chile, though just one game, reinforces that belief.

As Team USA sets its sights on the next group-stage matchups, the team’s depth, chemistry, and physicality appear to be early strengths. But at the heart of it all is Raegan Beers—a rising star whose blend of power, poise, and passion makes her a cornerstone for both Team USA’s present and Oklahoma’s future.

The AmeriCup journey is just beginning, but with Beers anchoring the paint, Team USA has every reason to believe the gold medal remains within reach. And for Beers, it’s another step forward in a career that seems destined for greatness, whether in the NCAA, on the international stage, or beyond.