Caitlin Clark made her senior international debut in style on Friday, coming off the bench to post 14 points and 11 assists as Team USA defeated China 94-61 in the opening game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. It was the United States’ 31st consecutive World Cup victory, dating back to a semifinal loss at the 2006 tournament.
Clark was not in head coach Kara Lawson’s starting five — that group was Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Breanna Stewart, Kahleah Copper, and Napheesa Collier — but she entered midway through the first quarter and immediately contributed. She finished the opening period with two points, four assists, and a rebound. She was joined off the bench by the other members of what many consider the next generation of US women’s basketball: Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.
None of the three started, but the young trio was on the floor together to close out the first quarter, which the Americans dominated 27-14.
How the Game Unfolded
Team USA started fast, with Jackie Young scoring seven of the team’s first 20 points. China fought back in the second quarter, led by 19-year-old centre Zhang Ziyu — who at 7-foot-3 presented an imposing defensive presence and made interior scoring difficult for the Americans. When Zhang caught the ball on offence, the US consistently double-teamed her. When she stood under the basket on defence, she forced the Americans to adjust their attack.
Zhang brought China within 33-25 with just over six minutes left in the first half before the US responded with a 16-4 run to lead 49-29 at the break, with Young hitting a three-point play and Stewart scoring the final four. China added 6-foot-10 Han Xu alongside Zhang in the third quarter, creating a more imposing defensive wall. China pulled within 53-37, but the young American trio then sparked a 17-5 run to close the period and effectively seal the game.
Zhang finished with 13 points, making nine of ten free throw attempts. Han added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Rhyne Howard and Young both scored 14 for the US, with Clark’s 14-point, 11-assist double-double the standout performance of the evening.
Clark entered the tournament in extraordinary form. In August alone, she scored or assisted on 44.7 points per game — a WNBA record for a single month. She became the first player in WNBA history to record back-to-back games with 30-plus points and 10-plus assists, including a 37-point, 10-assist performance against Chicago in which she hit eight of 12 three-pointers. She also posted five games in August with at least 20 points and 10 assists — more than any other player had managed in the previous five WNBA seasons combined.
Lawson has praised Clark throughout the tournament preparation period. “She is just so competitive, skilled, sees the game at this high level in terms of her ability to be anticipatory, with her passes and with her shots, and her belief and confidence in what she can do is terrific,” Lawson said.
Before the game, Clark spent time signing autographs for fans courtside, including signing a basketball and taking a photo with a young girl wearing a Fever jersey with Clark’s name on the back.
Full 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Schedule
The tournament runs September 4-13 with 16 national teams competing. Team USA is seeking its 12th World Cup title.
September 4 (Opening Day)
Australia vs. Puerto Rico, 5:30am
Japan vs. Mali, 5:30am
South Korea vs. Nigeria, 6:30am
United States vs. China, 8:15am
Belgium vs. Türkiye, 11:30am
Spain vs. Germany, 11:45am
Czechia vs. Italy, 2:15pm
Hungary vs. France, 3:00pm
September 5
Mali vs. Spain, 5:30am
Nigeria vs. Hungary, 8:15am
Germany vs. Japan, noon
France vs. South Korea, 2:45pm
September 6
Türkiye vs. Australia, 5:30am
China vs. Czechia, 8:30am
Puerto Rico vs. Belgium, 11:45am
Italy vs. United States, 2:45pm
September 7
Puerto Rico vs. Türkiye, 5:30am
Belgium vs. Australia, 5:30am
Hungary vs. South Korea, 8:30am
Nigeria vs. France, 8:30am
Japan vs. Spain, 11:50am
Germany vs. Mali, 11:50am
Italy vs. China, 2:45pm
United States vs. Czechia, 2:45pm
September 8-9: Quarterfinal qualification
September 10: Quarterfinals
September 12: Semifinals
September 13: Third place game and Final
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