Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers lead Team USA to strong win over China in debuts at 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup

All the pressure is on Team USA at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. After winning the event four straight times, that's now the expectation for newcomers like Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark.

In their first test as a team, the U.S. proved it was more than capable, defeating China 94-61 on Friday. In the process, Clark and Bueckers showed they are more than ready to represent Team USA.

It was a mostly smooth ride for Team USA, which led by roughly 20 points for the majority of the contest. On the offensive side, Jackie Young and Rhyne Howard led the way for the Americans early before Clark and Bueckers finished late. Young, who started the contest, finished with 12 points and three assists in the victory. Howard, who came off the bench, helped the team build its lead early, finishing with 14 points.

For all of Team USA's excellence Friday, there was one moment in the contest where the U.S. hit resistance. In the second quarter, China went on an 11-3 run after switching to a zone defense. During a halftime interview, Team USA coach Kara Lawson admitted that China's defense "stymied" her team briefly.

But Team USA found its way through that wall, eventually taking a 20-point lead into halftime. It was able to push that lead in the second half.

With the game in hand, the reserves saw more time in the third and fourth quarters and did not disappoint. After a quiet first half, Bueckers came alive late, finishing with 14 points, her first of which came after a smooth steal.

Clark also made her presence felt, though not as a scorer initially. During the first half, Clark acted as a distributor, racking up assists and finding the open player. Once Team USA shifted to its youth lineup in the second half, Clark started firing up shots, eventually tying for the team lead in points.

Along the way, she managed to hit one of her patented, long-range 3s.

She also continued shelling out assists, eventually securing a double-double (14 points, 11 assists) in her first-ever FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup game.

Angel Reese did her usual thing, playing relentless defense and pulling down rebounds. She finished with five points and eight rebounds in the win.

By the end of the contest, every single member of Team USA scored. Sonia Citron — another member of the team's youth movement — was the last to secure a bucket, finishing with two points.

It was a play that perfectly encapsulated why Team USA is going to be a problem for its opposition at the event.

It was an encouraging debut from that group, and from the team generally. While that was always the expectation, the team did hit some adversity Monday, when it was announced A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum would not play in the event due to injury .

Additionally, China wasn't necessarily going to be an easy win, as the team met the U.S. in the championship during the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.

Despite all that, Team USA took care of business Friday. In the process, they proved why they are the favorites to once again win it all. The veterans played as expected, while the youngsters proved they were more than ready for the limelight.

Team USA will look to carry that momentum into its next game in the event, which will come against Italy on Sunday.