Caitlin Clark made her return from injury count in the biggest way possible. After eight months away from competitive basketball, the Indiana Fever superstar not only showed she still had it, she walked away from San Juan as the tournament’s most outstanding player.
Caitlin Clark Named TISSOT MVP as Team USA Sweeps Through Qualifying Undefeated
FIBA made it official on Tuesday, announcing Clark as the TISSOT MVP of the 2026 Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament after Team USA completed a dominant 5-0 sweep in Puerto Rico.
Clark posted the best average efficiency on the roster at 14.6, finished second on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game on 52.9% shooting, and led the entire tournament in assists with 6.4 per game. She also connected on 2.0 three-pointers per contest at a 40% clip.
The recognition landed with extra weight, given the circumstances. Clark had been sidelined since suffering a season-ending groin injury during the 2025 WNBA season, limiting her to just 13 games in her second year with the Fever. This tournament marked her first competitive action in eight months, and she looked sharper with each passing game.
WHAT. A. RUN. 🤯
Led her team in total points & assists, helped USA achieve a 5-0 run in San Juan. Well deserved, CC12 ❤️🔥#FIBAWWC x #WeOwnTheGame https://t.co/El4BZhRdML pic.twitter.com/DbrLimKT3R
— FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) March 18, 2026
She logged the most minutes on the squad at 21.2 per game, earning her first start in Team USA’s fourth game against New Zealand, where she delivered 14 points and six assists in 23 minutes.
The Americans were ruthless from start to finish, defeating Senegal, Puerto Rico, Italy, New Zealand, and Spain to close out the tournament, winning their four games outside of the Spain matchup by an average margin of 49 points.
Their toughest test came against Spain on Tuesday in the finale, a game Team USA won 84-70 to seal the perfect record. Clark was one of four teammates nominated for the MVP award alongside Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Rhyne Howard, and Jackie Young, but her tournament-wide impact made her the clear choice.
The Fever were also quick to celebrate the moment. “MVP CC,” the team posted following FIBA’s announcement.
There was also a feel-good moment off the stat sheet. In the Spain game, Clark found Reese under the basket for a tough hook shot, then made a point of going over to high-five her teammate, a moment FIBA shared on social media with the caption, “Your favorite’s duo favorite duo.”
After a few instances during the tournament that had sparked chatter about the pair’s dynamic, the exchange went a long way toward putting any such noise to rest.
The MVP honor is the first Clark has received at the senior international level, though it is not her first from FIBA; she previously took home the same award at the 2021 U19 Women’s World Cup. With Team USA heading to Berlin in September to defend the World Cup title, Clark will be expected to anchor the backcourt once again.
Closer to home, the WNBA season is expected to begin around May 8, though CBA negotiations remain ongoing. If the season tips off on schedule, Clark will enter her third year with the Fever, looking to build on a tournament performance that left little doubt about where her game stands heading into 2026.
