The United States opened the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup with a 94-61 win over China on Friday in Berlin. The Americans took control in the first quarter, led 27-14 after one period and never looked back on the way to a comfortable Group A victory.
Clark and Howard set the pace
Caitlin Clark finished with 14 points and 11 assists, her first double-double for the senior national team at a World Cup. She found Angel Reese for a basket late in the fourth quarter to reach the mark. Rhyne Howard led the scoring and powered a run that pushed the US lead past 30 points. The Americans shot 45 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range, while holding China to 32 percent overall and 26 percent from deep. The US also won the rebound battle 47-41. The quarter scores were 27-14, 22-15, 21-13 and 24-19, and the game never felt close after the opening minutes. China's 16 turnovers led directly to a string of fast-break baskets for the Americans.
China short-handed in Berlin
China played without center Li Yueru of the Dallas Wings. Li said in a statement that her passport was lost in the mail, which prevented her from traveling to Berlin to join the national team. China did have 7-foot-3 center Zhang Ziyu in the lineup, but the team committed 16 turnovers, twice as many as the United States, and could not keep up with the American pace in transition.
A step toward a fifth straight title
The win starts the American bid for a fifth consecutive FIBA Women's World Cup gold medal. The group phase continues in Berlin over the coming days before the knockout rounds begin. USA Basketball called the opener a strong first step, with Clark's playmaking and the team's defensive pressure setting the tone for the tournament.