Caitlin Clark Leads US to 5-0 in World Cup Qualifiers

Caitlin Clark led the United States women's national basketball team to an undefeated 5-0 record at the FIBA Women's World Cup 2026 qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, earning tournament most valuable player honors in her return from an eight-month injury layoff.

The American squad clinched qualification for the 2026 World Cup in Berlin, Germany, from September 4 to 13, with decisive victories that averaged a 42-point margin. Clark, the Indiana Fever guard, averaged 11.6 points and a tournament-high 6.4 assists per game across five contests, shooting 52.9 percent from the field and making two three-pointers per game. In her senior international debut, she recorded 17 points and 12 assists. Clark capped the run with seven points, seven assists and one block in 22 minutes during an 84-70 win over Spain on Tuesday.

Returning after a groin injury limited her to 13 games in the 2025 WNBA season, Clark showed no signs of rust. She logged the most minutes on the team, averaging over 21 per game despite starting only once. Before the tournament, Clark said, "I feel like I put myself in the best possible shape that I could be in at this point. Sometimes almost the first game...