Caitlin Clark officially entered the record books on Sunday during the United States‘ 101-46 victory over New Zealand, surpassing the long-standing benchmark for the most assists by a Team USA player in a single FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament.
With a transition pass to Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen in the fourth quarter, Clark recorded her 23rd assist of the San Juan tournament, moving past the previous record of 22 held by Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray.
The milestone was the highlight of an afternoon that also marked Clark’s first career start for the U.S. senior national team.
Clark’s record-breaking run has been defined by its volume and efficiency; her tournament began with a 12-assist masterpiece against Senegal, the second-most in a single game in qualifying history, and has continued as she leads all players in Puerto Rico with an average of 6.3 assists per game.
Defensive dominance and a quest for perfection
While Clark provided the playmaking spark, Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard fueled the scoring effort, leading the United States with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
The Americans utilized a suffocating defensive strategy to keep New Zealand off balance, holding them to just 12 points in the first quarter and a mere two points in the final frame.
Team USA’s depth was on full display as Angel Reese dominated the glass with eight rebounds and Paige Bueckers added 11 points, ensuring the lead remained insurmountable after a pivotal 16-0 run in the first half.
The victory moves the United States to a perfect 4-0 record in Group A as they prepare for a final showdown against Megan Gustafson and Spain on Tuesday.
For head coach Nate Tibbetts, the tournament has served as a vital evaluation period for a roster blending veteran gold medalists like Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum with emerging stars such as Caitlin Clark and Kiki Iriafen.
Despite already having qualified for the 2026 World Cup in Berlin by virtue of their 2025 AmeriCup gold, the Americans have treated the San Juan qualifiers as a statement of intent, leading the tournament in points per game, field goal percentage, and total assists.
Read the full article here
