Overview
- USA crushed New Zealand 101-46 for a fourth straight blowout, with Caitlin Clark posting 14 points and six assists in her first start and Angel Reese adding nine points, four rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
- All four wins have come by at least 36 points, reinforcing a trend of lopsided results that included a 93-59 defeat of Italy in which Clark had 12 points and five assists off the bench.
- With World Cup qualification already secured, the San Juan slate has functioned as a trial run to build chemistry among newcomers like Clark, Paige Bueckers and Reese alongside veterans.
- Nate Tibbetts has handled game management after Kara Lawson returned to Duke, toggling between conventional substitutions and five-in, five-out shifts to assess lineup combinations.
- Clark reported she feels good after a heavy game load, attendance in the large San Juan arena has been sparse, and fan voting for tournament MVP currently shows Bueckers leading Clark ahead of Tuesday’s game against Spain.