USA Women's basketball FIBA World Cup campaign

Caitlin Clark made a record-breaking debut for the United States at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in a victory against China. Coming off the bench, Clark recorded 14 points and 11 assists, setting a new U.S. record for assists in a World Cup debut. As the tournament progressed toward the quarterfinals against Hungary, head coach Kara Lawson addressed speculation regarding the team's starting lineup. Despite Clark’s high productivity and impact as a reserve, Lawson indicated she was satisfied with the current rotation, noting that the starting group has performed well. Veteran Chelsea Gray has continued to hold the starting point guard position while the second unit, featuring Clark, has remained highly effective. Following a dominant 108-56 victory over Hungary, Team USA maintains an undefeated record in Germany. A notable development has been the collaboration between Clark and Angel Reese; despite their history as WNBA rivals, both players have expressed enjoyment in working together, noting that their familiarity with each other’s playing styles has aided their chemistry. Coach Lawson has continued to prioritize veteran players in the starting lineup, keeping Clark, Reese, and Paige Bueckers in reserve roles. While some fans have criticized the decision to keep Clark off the starting roster, she remains a vital contributor, leading the squad in both total minutes played and assists per game. Team USA’s participation has driven record-breaking viewership on TNT Sports. The squad's three group-stage games became the most-watched in the tournament's history, with the matchup against Italy averaging 1.3 million viewers and the game against Czechia averaging 1.2 million. Analysts attribute this momentum to the star power of Clark, whose presence has boosted international basketball interest. Amidst this commercial success, controversy persists regarding Lawson's starting five, which includes Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart.