Team USA head coach Kara Lawson never started Caitlin Clark in the FIBA World Cup. However, the Indiana Fever star made her presence felt whenever she was on the court.
Clark averaged 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists in six games with Team USA throughout the competition. Her best game came in the opener of the group stage against China, during which she tallied 14 points and 11 assists. She made history as the first-ever player in the World Cup to record at least 10 assists without a single turnover.
The Fever playmaker also surpassed Alyssa Thomas for the Team USA record for the most assists in a World Cup debut.
In the final against France, Clark also had a major impact in helping the Americans secure the championship. She recorded 12 points and three assists in a 97-79 victory. The Fever guard even drained a triple before halftime that allowed Team USA to cut France’s lead to 45-43.
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After Team USA’s gold-medal run, Clark was naturally ecstatic and celebrated the milestone with a post on social media. She shared several photos of herself showing off the championship trophy and her gold medal, along with some snaps of her in action.
“WORLD CHAMP,” Clark wrote in the caption of the post. “THANK YOU @usabasketball.”
Lawson, for her part, made sure to show her appreciation for Clark after the incredible run they just had.
In the comments section of Clark’s post, Lawson wrote, “Proud of you C!”
Clark has certainly shown that she can make an impact even if she’s coming off the bench. That being said, though, it will definitely be interesting to see how her role with Team USA will evolve as she continues to represent the squad in international competitions.
Based on Lawson’s comment as well, it’s clear that Clark has made quite the impression on the Team USA tactician.
