Caitlin Clark has quickly emerged as one of the biggest stars in women’s basketball since entering the professional ranks. After a historic college career with the Iowa Hawkeyes that included multiple NCAA tournament runs, scoring records and national player of the year honors, Clark was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Her transition to the professional level immediately drew national attention as she became the face of a new generation of stars in the league. Clark’s arrival helped boost television ratings, ticket sales and overall interest in women’s basketball, and she has already cemented her status as one of the sport’s most influential players early in her career.
Clark’s momentum in the WNBA was briefly halted last season when injuries limited her to just 13 games. She ultimately suffered a groin injury in mid-July that ended her season early.
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Now, Clark is expected to make her return to the court when Team USA competes at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament, scheduled for March 11–17 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event will mark Clark’s competitive debut with the senior U.S. national team alongside fellow WNBA star Angel Reese.
Ahead of the tournament, a major broadcasting development involving the event was announced on Thursday.
TNT Sports announced it has acquired the exclusive U.S. English-language broadcast rights to FIBA’s premier men’s and women’s basketball tournaments as part of a new multi-year agreement. Coverage will begin next week with the Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament across TNT, truTV and HBO Max, including the highly anticipated national team debut of Clark.
The agreement also ensures that U.S. fans will have access to several major international basketball competitions over the coming years. The package includes the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 (Sept. 4–13), the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, and FIBA EuroBasket 2029, bringing some of the sport’s biggest international tournaments to TNT Sports platforms.
This update means fan will soon be able to watch Clark’s long-awaited debut with the senior U.S. national team on TNT Sports platforms.
After months of recovery and anticipation, the tournament will mark the first chapter of Clark’s international career as she returns to competitive basketball on a global stage.