USA Caitlin Clark and Italy Francesca Pasa fight for the ball during a game between The United States and Italy in the group phase at the FIBA Women s Basketball World Cup, on Sunday 6 September 2026, in Berlin, Germany. The FIBA Women s Basketball World Cup takes place in Berlin from 4 to 23 September 2026. VIRGINIExLEFOUR PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBELxFRAxNEDxLUX x185482511x
USA Caitlin Clark and Italy Francesca Pasa fight for the ball during a game between The United States and Italy in the group phase at the FIBA Women s Basketball World Cup, on Sunday 6 September 2026, in Berlin, Germany. The FIBA Women s Basketball World Cup takes place in Berlin from 4 to 23 September 2026. VIRGINIExLEFOUR PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBELxFRAxNEDxLUX x185482511x
Clark scored 12 points in only 13 minutes from the bench on Sunday, but it was left to the star of the Indiana Fever to speak the loudest once the final whistle blew in Berlin.
Caitlin Clark, who plays guard for the Indiana Fever, tweeted out her exuberance on X following Team USA's 97-79 victory over France in the FIBA World Cup gold medal game.
Deutschland: Basketball, FIBA Womens World Cup, USA vs. China am 04.09.2026 in Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle: Caitlin Clark USA, 12 Angel Reese USA, 15 *** German Basketball, FIBA Womens World Cup, USA vs. China on September 4, 2026, in Berlin at the Max Schmeling Halle: Caitlin Clark USA, 12 Angel Reese USA, 15 Copyright: xSvenxHeidmannx
Deutschland: Basketball, FIBA Womens World Cup, USA vs. China am 04.09.2026 in Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle: Caitlin Clark USA, 12 Angel Reese USA, 15 *** German Basketball, FIBA Womens World Cup, USA vs. China on September 4, 2026, in Berlin at the Max Schmeling Halle: Caitlin Clark USA, 12 Angel Reese USA, 15 Copyright: xSvenxHeidmannx
Clark wrote, "WORLD CUP GOLD MEDALIST!!!!!!!!!!!!🇺🇸🥇"
It is an emotion that matches her performance in the match, with Clark going 4-for-5 shooting and hitting a three-pointer at the end of the half buzzer that cut the lead to two points for France.
The shot definitely changed the whole course of the game, hence the reason why her four-word celebration was so significant when all was said and done.
Clark scored 12 points, handed out three assists, grabbed one rebound, and recorded a plus/minus of +11 during her 13 minutes on the floor as Team USA overcame their double-digit deficit from early in the second quarter.
This type of performance is part of an emerging trend of young players coming through in big moments during this year’s tournament, something Coach Kara Lawson spoke about right after the game.
Kara Lawson Praises Team USA's Young Core After Gold Medal Win
That compliment from Lawson is tied directly to the influence that Clark and the other new faces had on the result in Berlin.
"Big momentum changing three from Caitlin right before halftime. We just felt it at halftime," said Lawson after the match on the YouTube channel of FIBA.
"We really did. We felt like we could push the gas pedal down to the floor and get away from them," Lawson added.
Lawson also gave credit to the youngsters in the tournament for their improvement in relation to the team's closing out the tough final.
"I just saw the young players picking things up quickly; they have high intelligence, they're highly skilled, they're very competitive," Lawson said, naming Clark, Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese specifically for their contributions in the biggest moments.
Clark's brief celebration wrapped up a tournament in which her buzzer-beater and Lawson's admiration both underscored the same truth, a bench role that came through when Team USA needed it the most.
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Written by
Utsav Gupta
Edited by
Utsav Gupta