Caitlin Clark and Team USA will open the FIBA World Cup on Friday against China, with the Indiana Fever guard expecting a tough challenge. Even with a few American stars absent, Team USA remains a heavy favorite.
Clark, however, doesn’t think it will be that easy.
Caitlin Clark Calls FIBA World Cup ‘Harder Than the Olympics’
Clark represented USA Basketball at the youth level, competing in the 2017 FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship and the 2019 and 2021 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cups. She won gold at all three events and earned MVP honors at the 2021 U19 World Cup. The 2026 tournament will mark her senior team debut in a major international competition.
Clark did play in five games during the qualifiers in Puerto Rico in March, so she does have some experience under her belt.
Speaking about the tournament, Clark reflected on the opportunity to represent Team USA and the growing strength of international basketball.
“Even getting to play here in the World Cup, that’s special within itself, too,” Clark explained. “Sometimes this is an even harder competition than the Olympics. I think one of the most fun parts is the international game, and talent is growing and growing. These competitions are only getting harder to win.”
“I think you just wait your turn, continue to put in the work, and your game kind of evolves as you get older,” Clark continued.
Clark’s comments reflect the increasing parity in women’s basketball, where international powers continue to close the gap on Team USA.
France is widely viewed as Team USA’s biggest challenger, while Belgium, Australia, and Spain also enter the tournament with legitimate medal aspirations.
China’s Han Xu and Australia’s Ezi Magbegor are among the tournament’s biggest stars outside Team USA, while Germany’s Leonie Fiebich, Belgium’s Julie Allemand, and France’s Gabby Williams will also be key players to watch. Fiebich and Han Xu both have WNBA ties with the New York Liberty, while Magbegor plays for the Seattle Storm, Allemand for the Toronto Tempo, and Williams for the Golden State Valkyries.
Clark also gets to play alongside some of the best players in the world, and claimed she feels “really confident in everything that I’ve been able to do.”
Representing Team USA has long been one of Clark’s goals, making her World Cup debut a significant milestone in her career.
“I grew up watching the national team, whether that was the World Cup or the Olympics,” Clark explained. “And now getting to be here at the World Cup and making my debut is pretty cool.”
Team USA opens tournament play against China at 8:15 a.m. ET on Friday. The game will air on TNT and truTV and stream on HBO Max.
