Clark wasn’t featured in Kara Lawson’s starting five to start off the tournament against China, whom Team USA saw in the 2022 gold-medal game.The starting guards for Team USA were Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, while Breanna Stewart, Kahleah Copper and Napheesa Collier round out the group.Gray was a pivotal piece in the 2022 victory at the World Cup, but Young, despite being one of the best guards in the WNBA today, wasn’t on the squad.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMCaitlin Clark during the Women's FIBA World Cup 2026 between the U.S.
and China on Sept.4, 2026, in Berlin, Germany.
(NurPhoto)Clark eventually checked in midway through the first quarter, as Team USA started to run up the scoreboard early on China, with Young scoring seven of the team’s first 20 points.Clark finished the first quarter with a layup for two points, while dishing out four assists and notching a rebound.Heading into the tournament, Lawson said that Clark has been "great" and "coachable."WNBA STAR WILL MISS PLAYING IN FIBA WORLD CUP AFTER HER PASSPORT GOES MISSING IN THE MAIL" I had my first experience with her this spring, I had never coached her before, been around her a ton before.She is just so competitive, skilled, sees the game at this high level in terms of her ability to be anticipatory, with her passes and with her shots, and her belief and confidence in what she can do is terrific," she said, per Sports Illustrated.Clark was also coming into the tournament red-hot after setting multiple WNBA records in the month of August before this international break.For starters, Clark scored or assisted on 44.7 points per game, a WNBA record for a single month.
The stellar point guard has always had a knack for either finding the bottom of the net or dishing assists to her teammates to get the job done.Caitlin Clark (17) looks on during the United States Women's Basketball Team training camp at Duke University on December 13, 2025 in Durham, North Carolina.(Jacob...