Double-Double: Caitlin Clark Makes Her Team USA Debut One to Remember
Caitlin Clark fans had plenty to smile about Friday morning as the Indiana Fever star made her FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup debut with Team USA. The United States opened the tournament with a convincing 94-61 win over China, and Clark made sure her first World Cup appearance was one fans will remember.
Clark finished the game with 14 points and 11 assists in 25 minutes, giving her a double-double in her first World Cup game. The 11 assists may be the number that stands out the most. For the everyday basketball fan, an assist simply means Clark made the pass that helped set up a teammate's basket. So, when you see 11 assists next to her name, that means she helped create 11 scoring plays for her teammates.
Even more impressive, Clark did all of that without turning the ball over. Her 14 points also tied for the team lead with Rhyne Howard and Paige Bueckers, giving Clark a strong scoring night while still spending much of her time creating opportunities for those around her.
One of the more interesting parts of Clark's debut was that she did not start the game. She came off the bench but ended up playing 25 minutes, which was the most playing time of any Team USA player. Once she entered the game, Clark quickly became an important part of the American offense, finding teammates, moving the ball and taking her own shots when the opportunity was there.
The numbers from the game show just how well that approach worked. Team USA finished with 26 assists on 34 made field goals, meaning many of the team's baskets came after one player helped create the scoring opportunity for another. All 12 American players scored in the victory, making it a true team effort and giving Clark plenty of opportunities to play the role of facilitator.
Clark was also recognized for her performance, earning Player of the Game honors after her 14-point, 11-assist performance. It is a pretty memorable way to begin her first World Cup, especially considering she accomplished it while sharing the floor with a roster filled with established stars.
When Can You Watch Caitlin Clark Again?
Clark fans won't have to wait long for another opportunity to watch her in a Team USA uniform. The United States plays Italy on Sunday, September 6th, with tipoff scheduled for 1:45 PM CDT. The game is scheduled to air on TNT and HBO Max, with FIBA's Courtside 1891 also providing streaming coverage for the World Cup.
Team USA will then face Czechia on Monday, September 7th, at 1:45 PM CDT. As the tournament moves forward, the competition will become more challenging, which should give fans an even better idea of how Clark fits into this collection of stars. So far signs point to budding on court relationships to the tune of 11 assists and plenty more to come. This was a highly professional performance which saw none of the recent WNBA drama or player histories follow to the world court stage.
Clark sure has given her fans plenty to talk about; I know she commands quite the crowd at the Corner Taproom in Cascade. Fourteen points, 11 assists, 25 minutes, and a Player of the Game award is a pretty good introduction to the World Cup. More importantly, she showed that her passing is as impactful as her shooting. If Friday's performance is any indication, Clark's ability to create opportunities for the stars around her could be one of Team USA's biggest advantages as the tournament continues.
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