WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark experienced difficulty during the FIBA World Cup after a stellar showing for Team USA in a dominant victory over China.
During the United States’ second match against Italy, Clark failed to make any field goals, missing all six of her attempts. She scored only one point off a free throw. However, she contributed six rebounds and an assist while playing over 18 minutes. This was not her usual performance noted by fans and critics alike, who often see her shine as one of the top stars in the WNBA.
Tina Charles, a former league MVP and an eight-time WNBA All-Star, spoke out in support of Clark. Charles suggested that the criticism aimed at the Indiana Fever standout was unwarranted.
“I think it’s a little bit unfair to isolate Caitlin Clark from Team USA, right? Caitlin Clark had rhythms in the first game [against China], so did Team USA. Caitlin Clark struggled to find that rhythm [against Italy], so did Team USA,” Charles stated during TNT’s FIBA World Cup coverage.
Charles emphasized a lesson for both Clark and the team, noting that they should adapt when their usual strategies are not effective:
“I think the lesson for Team USA and Caitlin Clark is, ‘Ok, what I’m used to doing is not available, or I’m not able to do that, what is the second thing I’m gonna do to impact this game?'”
Team USA’s game against Italy finished with a narrow 55-52 win, facing a robust Italian squad. The team managed only a 28.6% shooting accuracy, and Jackie Young was the sole player to score in double digits with 10 points.
However, Team USA rebounded strongly on Monday in a match against Czechia, securing a decisive 105-64 victory, concluding the FIBA World Cup Group Phase. In this match, Clark scored nine points with a 3-for-8 shooting record and added seven assists, contributing to the team’s win.
With a 3-0 record in group games, Clark and Team USA advanced to the final phase of the 2026 FIBA World Cup. They await their next opponent, to be decided from the Hungary-Japan game on Tuesday.
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