Overview
- Team USA opened the World Cup with a 94-61 victory over China on Friday, and Caitlin Clark was named Player of the Game after scoring 14 points and recording 11 assists with zero turnovers in 25 minutes off the bench.
- FIBA data show Clark’s 11 assists were the most ever by an American in a World Cup debut and she became the first player in the tournament era to finish with at least 10 assists and no turnovers.
- Coach Kara Lawson instructed U.S. post players to establish position and push China’s 7-foot-3 center Zhang Ziyu away from the basket, and Aliyah Boston logged key defensive minutes on that assignment.
- The win highlighted Team USA’s depth because all 12 players scored, the bench created sustained offense with immediate impact plays such as Clark’s four assists in her first four minutes, and Clark linked with Angel Reese on a late highlight pass.
- Team USA now shifts focus to Group D play against Italy and Czechia while integrating new rotations after recent veteran withdrawals, a development that has increased on-court roles for younger WNBA stars and could reshape bench deployment.