Caitlin Clark made her highly anticipated return on March 11, 2026, in dominant fashion. After an eight-month hiatus due to a right groin injury suffered in July 2025, the Indiana Fever star finally wore the red, white, and blue for her Senior Team USA debut.
Coach Kara Lawson’s Advice for Caitlin Clark Before FIBA World Cup Qualifier
Facing Senegal in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, Clark looked like she had not missed a beat. However, behind the stellar stat line was a simple, grounding message from her head coach, Kara Lawson, that helped the playmaker find her rhythm in a high-pressure return.
The 2024 Rookie of the Year was one of the most popular names heading into the 2025 WNBA season. But she could play only 13 games before a season-ending injury in the Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game on July 15, which sidelined her for the remainder of the year.
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Returning to the court after her shortened WNBA season, Caitlin Clark described feeling both nervous and excited. Before she entered, Lawson gave her clear instructions: Do not overthink, just play.
Clark shared what Lawson advised before her USA Team Debut, “Be you. Play fast, play uptempo. That’s what I wanna see. But also, my playmaking ability is what I can bring to this team in setting everybody up and get this team flowing and finding people in transition.”
Lawson’s advice focused on Clark’s natural ability to draw defenders and create playmaking chances. Clark’s skill for ball control and finding openings, paired with Team USA’s elite talent, makes the Americans a dominant force in the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Caitlin on what Kara Lawson told her before her first Team USA game
“Be you. Play fast, play uptempo that’s what I wanna see. but also my playmaking ability is what I can bring to this team in setting everybody up and get this team flowing and finding people in transition.” pic.twitter.com/ShJ5sspCF2
— correlation (@nosyone4) March 30, 2026
The “Be you” comment clearly resonated with Clark, who, despite coming off the bench and playing just 19 minutes after 239 days, broke through the Senegalese defense. She showcased that her vision and game IQ remain her most dangerous weapons.
Clark smartly used Senegal’s pressurized defense to her advantage and helped Team USA to register a blowout 110-46 victory in its first qualifier match. She finished with 17 points and a game-high 12 assists, recording a double-double in less than 20 minutes of action.
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Clark was equally impressive with her shooting, knocking down 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. This included a signature deep three late in the first quarter that signaled her return to the hardwood.
This performance was a huge relief for the 24-year-old, who was Team USA’s second-leading scorer behind Rhyne Howard (21 points). Clark helped her team shoot 58.7% from the field. Her healthy return reassures both the team and fans eager to see her anchor the next golden era.
