Caitlin Clark’s Mixed Performance at FIBA World Cup

After leading Team USA to a major victory over China, WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark faced challenges in the FIBA World Cup.

Performance Against Italy

In the United States team’s second game, Clark struggled against Italy. She missed all six field-goal attempts, scoring only one point from the free-throw line. Despite this, she managed to secure six rebounds and contributed an assist in over 18 minutes on the court. This performance was below expectations for the renowned WNBA superstar.

Veteran player Tina Charles, an eight-time WNBA All-Star and former league MVP, supported Clark amidst the criticisms. Charles addressed the issue during TNT’s FIBA World Cup coverage.

I think it’s a little bit unfair to isolate Caitlin Clark from Team USA. Caitlin Clark had rhythms in the first game against China, so did Team USA. Caitlin Clark struggled to find that rhythm against Italy, so did Team USA.

Charles emphasized the importance of adapting when faced with obstacles in the game.

Tough Competition

Team USA’s match against Italy ended with a narrow 55-52 victory. The Italian team played with intensity and physicality. Team USA only hit 28.6% of their shots from the field. Guard Jackie Young stood out as the only double-digit scorer with 10 points.

Rebounding Against Czechia

Team USA rebounded with a significant 105-64 win against Czechia, concluding the FIBA World Cup Group Phase. Clark’s performance improved as she scored nine points on 3-for-8 shooting and added seven assists. This victory allowed Team USA, after going 3-0 in group games, to advance to the final phase of the 2026 FIBA World Cup. They now await the winner of the Hungary-Japan game for their quarterfinal opponent.

For further details on the WNBA and FIBA World Cup, visit Newsweek Sports.