The U.S.women's basketball team is among the predominant dynasties in modern international sports, and have won eight consecutive Olympic gold medals and four consecutive World Cups.
They have not lost a game at either event since 2006, and three victories in Berlin have extended their World Cup winning streak to 33 games.Their Olympic win streak is at 61 games.The U.S.
has never lost a quarterfinal game in the FIBA Women's World Cup, and they will look to keep that going on Thursday.But they will have to do it with their biggest star in an undefined role.CAITLIN CLARK AND ANGEL REESE MUST NOW WORK TOGETHER AT WOMEN'S WORLD CUP AS WNBA TAKES A HIGH-STAKES BREAKCaitlin Clark has come off the bench in all three group stage games for the US.
She went from a record-setting 14-point, 11-assist debut against China to scoring just one point and missing every field goal in a career-low game against Italy, as the U.S.nearly suffered a devastating upset.Clark rebounded with nine points and seven assists in a blowout win against Czechia to close the group stage.But going into the knockout stage, as France and Belgium have looked more dominant than the U.S., Clark's role will be a subject of higher consequence, both on the court and on social media.
Many fans have called for other young stars like Paige Buecker and Angel Reese to start as well.Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese look on during practice as part of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 on Sept.5, 2026, in Berlin, Germany.
(NBAE via Getty Images)And as America will look to defend its Olympic dynasty in home soil in 2028, what happens with Clark, Bueckers and Reese in this next week will be the world's last impression of how those three gel until LA28.Clark's chemistry with her World Cup teammates was on display in a viral video where three other players appeared to point and laugh as she bent her bare feet backward under a bench to hide them from a camera in the locker room.The players laughin...