Caitlin Clark shined in her FIBA Women’s World Cup debut Friday as a new generation of USA Basketball stars signaled that the dynasty has entered a new chapter.
Clark announced herself on one of basketball’s biggest international stages with a 14-point, 11-assist double-double off the bench to help the U.S. cruise to a dominant 96-61 victory against China to open group play.
“This is such a privilege and honor to be here,” said Clark, who seems poised to take over the starting point guard role from Chelsea Gray at some point. “I don’t worry about all that (pressure). I’m just excited to go play basketball. I remain confident in what I can do.”
The trademarks of what makes USA Basketball so good over all these years has been its continuity and unselfish style.
But this is the youngest team the U.S. has fielded since 1994, with six players under 25.
With all the newness of this roster, including seven first-time members to the senior national team at a major competition, this first game was supposed to be a feeling out process as the team is still getting acquainted with one another.
But the U.S. looked like it had been training for months for this moment.
The Americans started their most seasoned group: Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
But head coach Kara Lawson ensured everyone saw the court by early in the second quarter.
The U.S. set the tone early and mastered the game plan while managing to handle China’s major size advantage even without four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, who’s not competing in the World Cup because of a back issue.
The tallest player on the court was 19-year-old, 7-foot-3 Chinese center Zhang Ziyu, who’s 10 inches taller than Aliyah Boston.
It was a battle in the post all day, but the U.S. managed to have a four-point advantage in the paint.
The U.S. moved the ball well, dishing out 26 assists on 34 made field goals with only eight turnovers.
It was a balanced, well-orchestrated effort.
All 12 players scored, including eight in the first quarter.
Rhyne Howard and Paige Bueckers joined Clark in leading the team with 14 points apiece.
“It was a great team effort for us,” Lawson said. “You’re in this pool play scenario and there’s obviously that goal at the end of it to try and win the pool and have the bye straight to the quarterfinals and so the tournament piece, to start off against a real good team, China presented a lot of problems for us.
“We just had a lot of different people in different moments step up, and that’s what we need. We’re at our best when we have a lot of different people contributing.”
