Caitlin Clark Leads USA to Dominant 94-61 Victory Over China in World Cup Debut
POLICY WIRE — Berlin, Germany — The United States opened its women’s basketball World Cup campaign with a commanding 94-61 win over China on Friday. Caitlin Clark anchored the American effort,...
POLICY WIRE — Berlin, Germany — The United States opened its women’s basketball World Cup campaign with a commanding 94-61 win over China on Friday.
Caitlin Clark anchored the American effort, contributing 14 points and 11 assists in the victory.
Rhyne Howard matched Clark’s 14 points, while Jackie Young chipped in 12 points for the U.S. squad.
The win extends an impressive American winning streak in the World Cup to 31 games, a run that began after a semifinal defeat in 2006.
The U.S. is currently navigating a roster transition, integrating young talents such as Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and Clark.
While none of the three started the game, they played together to finish the first quarter, helping the U.S. secure a 27-14 lead.
China attempted a comeback early in the second quarter led by 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu, who was making her World Cup debut.
Standing 7-foot-3, Zhang used her massive frame to obstruct interior scoring and limit second-chance opportunities for the Americans.
To counter her offensive threat, the U.S. defense consistently employed double-teams whenever Zhang touched the ball.
China narrowed the gap to 33-25 with 6:21 remaining in the first half following Zhang’s first field goal.
The U.S. responded with a 16-4 surge to end the half 49-29, highlighted by a three-point play from Young and four straight points from Breanna Stewart.
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In the third quarter, China attempted to fortify its defense by pairing Zhang with the 6-foot-10 Han Xu.
The strategy briefly worked as China cut the lead to 53-37, but a 17-5 run fueled by Clark, Bueckers, and Reese closed the period.
Zhang concluded the game with 13 points, converting nine of 10 attempts from the free-throw line.
Han Xu finished her night with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The American team enjoyed rare crowd support in Berlin, with Clark taking time to sign a ball and pose for a photo with a young fan wearing a Fever jersey.
The United States is scheduled to take on Italy in pool play this Saturday.
China will face the Czech Republic in their next pool match on Saturday.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
