Although she wasn’t part of the starting five, Caitlin Clark made the biggest impact in Team USA’s opener for the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
Kara Lawson decided to go with an experienced lineup for the FIBA World Cup opener, choosing Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, Jackie Young, Kahleah Cooper and Chelsea Gray as her starting five. Clark, meanwhile, came off the bench and received 25 minutes of playing time.
Unsurprisingly, Clark thrived off the bench for Team USA. The former No. 1 pick from Iowa had a team-high 14 points and 11 assists on 4-of-9 shooting from the field.
With her performance now in the books, Clark has recorded the most assists for Team USA in a World Cup game without having a single turnover.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images.
“Quite literally the best point guard on the planet and it’s not close,” David Eickholt of 247Sports said. “Regardless of what social media tries to tell you. The eyes don’t lie.”
“Best PG in the world,” one fan declared.
“MVP agenda starts now,” a second fan wrote on X.
“I’ve seen enough she’s the truth,” another fan commented.
Caitlin is making Diana Taurasi proud.
Diana Taurasi wore No. 12 throughout her career with Team USA. She won six Olympic gold medals and three World Cup titles, cementing her status as one of the game’s greats.
Even though Clark’s résumé isn’t as loaded just yet, Taurasi said she’s thrilled the Indiana Fever star is wearing her jersey number.
“It’s so cool to see Caitlin not only wear the USA jersey, but number 12. I spent two decades wearing that jersey and that number, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to take it and put it on and just have an amazing career,” Taurasi said, via CBS Sports. “And Caitlin will do that. She had a great qualifier down in Puerto Rico. It’s just going to be fun to watch her play in the summer, in Germany, and then the Olympics. No one better to wear the 12, and Caitlin’s going to put some gold medals on that jersey, you know.”
There’s no question Clark made Taurasi and USA Basketball fans proud this Friday.
