The gold standard of international basketball remains firmly in American hands. Team USA opened the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico with a statement win, dismantling Senegal 110-46 in a game that was effectively over by halftime. With a 40-point cushion at the break, new head coach Kara Lawson had the luxury of deep rotation management, ensuring every player on the roster saw at least 10 minutes of action.
While Rhyne Howard led all scorers with a clinical 21 points, the night felt more like a “changing of the guard” ceremony. The game featured the senior team debuts of the sport’s most anticipated young trio: Angel Reese, who cracked the starting five and lead the game with 8 rebounds, Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, who provided an immediate spark coming off the bench.
Caitlin Clark’s Historic Return: A Record-Breaking Night in San Juan
All eyes were understandably fixed on Caitlin Clark, who was playing her first competitive minutes in over 200 days following an injury layoff that began last July. Any concerns about rust were silenced within minutes.
Clark looked every bit like the generational playmaker the world remembers, finishing with a double-double: 17 points on an efficient 4-of-5 from beyond the arc, paired with a game-high 12 assists. Those 12 assists weren’t just a team high; they were historic.
Clark now holds the record for the second-most assists in a single game in FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying history. She sits just behind China’s Siyu Wang, who set the bar with 15 assists against France back in February 2022.
For Clark to achieve this in just 19 minutes of play, and in her senior debut, underscores her readiness for the international level. With four more games scheduled over the next six days, expect Lawson to continue managing the veterans’ legs while giving Clark more room to orchestrate the offense.
Berlin 2026: The High-Stakes Laboratory for Team USA’s New Wave
While the United States technically punched its ticket to the 2026 FIBA World Cup in Berlin (Sept. 4-13) by winning the 2025 AmeriCup, these games in Puerto Rico are anything but “friendlies.”
For National Team managing director Sue Bird, this tournament is a high-stakes laboratory to see how the next generation fits into the most dominant program in sports. The U.S. is chasing its fifth consecutive World Cup title, but the roster currently in San Juan represents a massive shift in personnel.
Six players are making their senior national team debuts this week: Caitlin Clark (24), Paige Bueckers (24), Angel Reese (23), Kiki Iriafen (22), Monique Billings (29), and Rae Burrell (25).
With only one more training camp projected before the final roster selection for Germany in September, every minute on the floor in Puerto Rico is a literal audition. If the opener against Senegal was any indication, the new faces aren’t just ready to participate, they’re ready to lead.
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