Caitlin Clark Leads Team USA in Assists After Group Stage of FIBA World Cup
In her debut for the senior national team, Caitlin Clark posted 19 assists in three games, topping the tournament's assist leaders and posting the highest plus/minus when on the court.
Caitlin Clark recorded 11 assists with no turnovers and added 14 points in the United States' opening win over China at the FIBA World Cup, setting a record for the most assists by a U.S. player in a World Cup debut. After a narrow victory against Italy, she contributed seven assists and nine points in a win over the Czech Republic. Clark leads the tournament in total assists (19) and assists per game (6.3) after three group-stage matches, averaging just over 20 minutes per contest. She also tops Team USA in plus/minus, with the squad outscoring opponents by 58 points when she is on the floor.
The United States will enter the single-elimination quarterfinals on Thursday, facing the winner of the Japan-Hungary game. Coach Kara Lawson has yet to start Clark in any match, and her playing time in close games may vary, as she was not on the floor during the decisive minutes of the Italy win. The coaching staff's rotation decisions are expected to be closely watched as the tournament progresses.