Caitlin Clark Faces Challenges at FIBA World Cup

WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark experienced difficulty during the FIBA World Cup following an outstanding performance against China. Team USA’s second game saw Clark struggle against Italy, missing all six of her field-goal attempts and scoring only one point via a free throw. Despite these setbacks, she contributed six rebounds and an assist over 18 minutes of play.

Tina Charles, a respected eight-time WNBA All-Star and former league MVP, defended Clark amidst the criticism. Speaking on TNT’s FIBA World Cup coverage, Charles remarked, “I think it’s a little bit unfair to isolate Caitlin Clark from Team USA. Clark and the team found rhythm in the first game against China. Both struggled to find that rhythm against Italy.” She further emphasized the need for players to adapt when facing challenges, suggesting that players should have a secondary plan when their usual performance approaches do not work.

“The lesson for Team USA and Caitlin Clark is to figure out alternative contributions when their usual strategies don’t yield results,” Charles stated.

Team USA narrowly secured a 55-52 victory over Italy in a match characterized by the Italian team’s aggressive and physical style. The United States team achieved a low shooting percentage of 28.6%, with Jackie Young standing out as the sole player with double-digit points, scoring ten.

In a subsequent match, Team USA rebounded emphatically against Czechia, achieving a 105-64 win. Clark improved her performance, scoring nine points on 3-of-8 shooting, and added seven assists to the team’s success. The win secured Team USA’s place in the 2026 FIBA World Cup final phase with a 3-0 group game record. The team awaits the winner of the Hungary-Japan game to determine their quarterfinal opponent.