The U.S. women's basketball team kicked off their campaign in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup with an impressive performance, defeating China 94-61 in Berlin. Caitlin Clark, making her mark off the bench, contributed significantly with a double-double, scoring 14 points and dishing out 11 assists. This tournament is particularly significant as it serves as a key international competition leading up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
This match was a rematch of the last World Cup final held in 2022, where the U.S. also emerged victorious, winning 83-61. With this latest victory, the U.S. extended its remarkable winning streak to 67 consecutive games in Olympic and World Cup play, a run that dates back to a semifinal loss to Russia in 2006. Furthermore, the U.S. has not lost a World Cup game in 31 matches, showcasing their dominance in the tournament.
Kara Lawson, in her debut as head coach for a global championship after taking over from Cheryl Reeve, emphasized experience in her starting lineup, which featured 2024 Olympic gold medalists Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart. Meanwhile, the younger talents, including Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese, made their global championship debuts coming off the bench.
Clark, along with Bueckers and Rhyne Howard, shared the game-high with 14 points, and both Clark and Bueckers logged significant minutes, with 25 and 20 respectively. Their contributions were particularly notable in the second half when the game was already in hand, allowing the team to showcase its depth. All 12 players on the roster scored, with each seeing at least 10 minutes of action, highlighting the team's versatility even in the absence of key players.
A'ja Wilson, the reigning Olympic, World Cup, WNBA, and WNBA Finals MVP, was notably absent from the game due to health issues, as was fellow Olympic gold medalist Kelsey Plum, who is sidelined for the remainder of the WNBA season due to a lower leg injury. Lawson addressed their absence, stating, "Both of them, obviously, been great players for us. I’ll miss being around them, but ultimately, we’ve kind of moved on. 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. women's national team will continue their World Cup journey with their next match against Italy on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET, followed by a game against Czechia on Monday at the same time. As the tournament progresses, the U.S. will likely face tougher challenges in the knockout rounds, which begin next Thursday. Their performance in this World Cup is crucial, especially after narrowly edging host France 67-66 in the final at the 2024 Olympics, marking their closest Olympic game since suffering their last defeat in 1992.
France, which boasts eight WNBA players on its roster, is expected to be one of the stronger contenders in the tournament, second only to the U.S. in terms of professional representation. The U.S. women’s national team is set to compete in the FIBA World Cup from September 4-13, aiming to continue their legacy of excellence in international women's basketball.
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