Team USA began its quest for a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medal on Friday, Sept. 4, taking a commanding 49-29 lead over China at halftime in their opening preliminary round-robin matchup in Berlin. The United States, which has won nine of the last 12 FIBA World Cups, entered the game seeking to defend its title against a fourth-ranked Chinese squad that earned a silver medal in the 2022 tournament.
Team USA Opens FIBA World Cup with Dominant Half Against China
The Americans established early control, leading 27-14 after the first quarter. Ten players saw action in the opening period, with eight of them scoring. Team USA shot 48% from the field in the first quarter and converted six of 13 three-point attempts. By halftime, the U.S. was shooting 44% overall and 50% from beyond the arc, while holding China to 29% shooting and forcing eight turnovers. The lead was bolstered by a 19-6 run over seven minutes in the second quarter, according to USA Today.
Caitlin Clark Makes Senior International Debut
The opener marked the senior international debut for Caitlin Clark, who entered the game as one of the first players off the bench alongside Aliyah Boston. Coach Kara Lawson opted for a starting lineup of Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Breanna Stewart, Kahleah Copper, and Napheesa Collier. Lawson noted that Clark has been coachable
and great
, praising her skill, competitiveness, and ability to be anticipatory with her shots and passes, as reported by Fox News.
Clark scored her first World Cup points for the senior national team with a driving layup at the 1:48 mark of the first quarter. She finished the first quarter with two points, one rebound, and four assists. By halftime, Clark had recorded five points and six assists. Clark entered the tournament following a record-breaking August in the WNBA, where she became the first player in league history to record back-to-back games with at least 30 points and 10 assists, and averaged 24.4 points per game—the highest-scoring month for a WNBA point guard.
Key Performances and Game Flow
Jackie Young led the early offensive effort, scoring seven of the first 20 points and becoming the first American to reach double figures at the 4:17 mark of the second quarter. By halftime, Young had 10 points and three assists, while Rhyne Howard contributed 11 points. Breanna Stewart added seven points and seven rebounds. Napheesa Collier scored the first points of the game for Team USA at the 9:16 mark of the first quarter on an assist from Chelsea Gray.
China struggled against the U.S. defense but found success through Xinyu Luo, who led the Chinese team with 11 points by halftime. While China held a size advantage in the paint, they were unable to sustain a comeback attempt in the second quarter. China managed to cut the lead to eight points at the 5:37 mark of the second quarter after Team USA missed 10 of 11 shots, but Chelsea Gray extended the lead back to 10 points at the free-throw line to make it 35-25.
Tournament Context and Roster Challenges
The World Cup, running from Sept. 4-13 in Berlin, features a new format where teams play three group-stage games. Team USA is competing in Group D alongside China, Italy, and Czechia. The first-place team in each group advances directly to the quarter-finals, while second- and third-place teams must enter a play-in game. According to The Guardian, the tournament winner automatically qualifies for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
China entered the tournament facing a significant roster loss. Dallas Wings center and two-time Olympian Li Yueru was unable to travel to Berlin because her passport was lost in the mail. Li Yueru had previously helped China secure a silver medal at the 2022 World Cup.
