Caitlin Clark contributed significantly in her first global championship appearance, scoring 14 points and making 11 assists as the U.S. women’s basketball team dominated the opener of the FIBA World Cup. The U.S. team, missing A’ja Wilson, defeated China 94-61 in Berlin, adding another victory to their record.
This match was a repeat of the 2022 World Cup final, which the U.S. also won against China, with a score of 83-61. With this victory, the U.S. achieved 67 consecutive wins across Olympic and World Cup games, extending back to the 2006 World Championship semifinals against Russia. In World Cup games alone, they now have a streak of 31 consecutive victories.
Kara Lawson, in her debut as head coach for a global championship, maintained the team’s reliance on experienced players. The starting lineup featured 2024 Olympic gold medalists Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart. Emerging players like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese began the game from the bench.
“Being surrounded by five people that have won a gold medal before at the highest level, you just try to follow their lead and take every bit of wisdom that they can give you,” Clark remarked. “Whatever role I have, I’m going to come in and do it to the best of my ability.”
Clark’s 11 assists were the highest by an American woman in a FIBA World Cup game since Dawn Staley’s 12 in 1998. The last American woman to record a double-double with points and assists in a global championship was Teresa Edwards in the 1996 Olympics against Australia.
“Anybody I pass the ball to, it feels like they’re never going to miss a shot,” Clark said. “That’s one of my goals when I come into the game, facilitate, play fast, set up my teammates, get into the paint, get some penetration.”
Caitlin Clark, along with Paige Bueckers and Rhyne Howard, all recorded a game-high of 14 points. Clark led with 25 minutes of play without any turnovers, demonstrating her skills effectively. Coach Lawson praised Clark for her impactful performance in speeding up the game and enhancing playmaking.
All 12 American players participated in the game, each playing at least 10 minutes in the absence of Wilson. Wilson and Kelsey Plum, both 2024 Olympics gold medalists, were replaced on the team due to recent health concerns. Plum’s leg injury has sidelined her for the remaining WNBA season.
“Both of them, obviously, been great players for us. I’ll miss being around them, but ultimately, we’ve kind of moved on,” Lawson noted. “We’ve got to focus and prepare for this tournament with the 12 players that are here. So, we wish them both a speedy recovery with what they’re dealing with. Our group, we don’t have time to be worried about who’s not here. We’ve got to really focus on ourselves and how we’re going to develop our chemistry in the short lead-up and trying to win.”
The U.S. team will next face Italy on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET and will conclude group play against Czechia on Monday at 2:45 p.m. If challenged, this team might face their first tough competition in the knockout rounds starting on Thursday with the quarterfinals. During the 2024 Olympics, the U.S. team narrowly beat host France 67-66 in the finals, marking their closest Olympic game since the 1992 semifinals. France, boasting eight WNBA players, poses a significant challenge, having the second-highest number of WNBA athletes, next to the U.S.
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