BERLIN, The United States women’s basketball team is excelling at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup through balanced scoring and strong ball movement. Caitlin Clark, despite a shooting slump, is a key contributor with exceptional playmaking, currently averaging 6.3 assists per game and on pace to break Dawn Staley’s tournament record of 5.8 assists.
Through three games, the U.S. has demonstrated depth, with 69 assists on 92 field goals, a 75% assist rate. Clark has been instrumental in this, averaging 19 assists while playing an average of 21.9 minutes off the bench. Coach Kara Lawson highlighted Clark’s impact, stating, “She provides a great playmaking aspect to her game on our team. We rely on her at the point guard position, when she’s in, to run the team.” Lawson also noted Clark’s performance in the first game, where she recorded 11 assists and zero turnovers, adding, “She’s another young player who’s feeling her way through her first World Cup…and she’s really motivated and wanting to help our team win.”
The U.S. completed Group D play with a 3-0 record, defeating Czechia 105-64 on Monday. They automatically qualified for the quarterfinal round on Thursday, where they will face Hungary, which defeated Japan 84-63. While Clark’s shooting has been inconsistent, 30.4% from the field and 25% from 3-point range, including a stretch of nine missed 3-pointers, Lawson isn’t concerned. “I didn’t even know that,” Lawson said. “I don't count how many times they miss. I just want their shot quality to be high. And I think Caitlin’s done a solid job in this tournament taking the right shots at the right times.”
Jackie Young leads the U.S. in scoring with an average of 11.3 points. Beyond Young, seven other U.S. players are averaging between 6.0 and 10.3 points, emphasizing the team’s balanced approach. Veteran forward Breanna Stewart emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “This is a big moment for all of us, and we need to take full advantage of it. But the thing that separates us is the 12 that we have. We can't be special unless we do it together.”
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