After Team USA earned a commanding 94-61 victory over China in their FIBA Women’s World Cup opener in Berlin, Caitlin Clark had every reason to celebrate herself.

She had just put together one of the most remarkable tournament debuts in USA Basketball history. Yet, during her postgame interview, she showered praise on her teammates for their exceptional shooting and defensive efforts against one of the tallest frontlines in women's basketball.

"You know, obviously playing around so many talented players. Obviously our guards are incredible, and our post players too. But anybody I pass the ball to, it feels like they're never going to miss a shot," Clark said after the game, per a video shared by Underdog WNBA on X.

Clark did not start against China. Head Coach Kara Lawson opened with the team's five returning veterans: Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

Then, with 6:25 left in the first quarter, Lawson sent Clark and Aliyah Boston into the game.

Clark did not need long to make an impact. She finished with 14 points, three rebounds, and 11 assists in 25 minutes.

Her 11 assists were the most ever by an American in a World Cup debut. They were also the most by a U.S. player in a World Cup game since Dawn Staley had 12 in 1998.

She shot 4-of-9 from the field, made three 3-pointers, and, most importantly, controlled the flow of the offense, keeping teammates open.

“So that's one of my goals when I come into the game, facilitate, play fast, set up my teammates, get into the paint, get some penetration. Especially with their zone, that was one of my focus points," she added during the same interview, per Underdog WNBA on X.

China leaned on a zone defense built around its size advantage. It's anchored by 7-foot-3 center Zhang Ziyu and 6-foot-8 Han Xu. Rather than settling for outside shots, Clark used her quickness to attack right into the teeth of it.

A roster that runs deeper than just Clark

If the opener proved anything beyond Clark's playmaking, it's that this Team USA group has answers everywhere on the floor.

All 12 players on the roster scored. Paige Bueckers and Rhyne Howard matched Clark with 14 points each, while Jackie Young added 12 points.

Despite giving up nearly a foot of height advantage to China's 7-foot-3 Zhang, the American frontcourt of Boston, Breanna Stewart, Angel Reese, and Napheesa Collier combined for 22 rebounds.

They held Zhang to just two made baskets from the floor and won the paint battle outright.

Team USA recorded 26 assists on 34 made field goals while giving up only six turnovers. At the same time, their defense held China to just 32 percent shooting from the field.

"It was a great team effort for us.... China presented a lot of problems for us. … We just had a lot of different people in different moments step up, and that’s what we need," Lawson said after the game, per USA Today.

The win extended Team USA's incredible World Cup winning streak to 31 consecutive games, a run that stretches back to 2006. They will face Italy in their second Group D game on Sunday.

Written by

Md Saife Fida