WNBA All-Star Caitlin Clark, after delivering a stunning performance in Team USA’s dominant victory over China, faced a tough challenge at the FIBA World Cup.
During the United States team’s second game against Italy, Clark missed all six field-goal attempts and managed to score just one point at the free-throw line. Despite these struggles, she contributed six rebounds and one assist over more than 18 minutes on the court. Her performance caught the eye of fans and critics alike, who expect high-caliber play from one of the WNBA’s leading figures.
Tina Charles, a former league MVP and eight-time WNBA All-Star, stood by Clark following her difficult game, arguing that the criticism directed at the Indiana Fever star was unwarranted.
“I think it’s a little bit unfair to isolate Caitlin Clark from Team USA, right? Caitlin Clark had rhythms in the first game [against China], so did Team USA. Caitlin Clark struggled to find that rhythm [against Italy], so did Team USA,” Charles remarked during TNT’s coverage of the FIBA World Cup.
Charles emphasized the importance of adaptation in challenging situations, urging both Clark and Team USA to explore alternative strategies when traditional methods falter.
The game against Italy ended closely with a 55-52 victory for Team USA. The Italian team displayed a strong, physical defense that challenged the Americans throughout the match. Despite the team’s low shooting percentage of 28.6%, guard Jackie Young was the standout scorer with 10 points.
Team USA regained momentum on Monday with a resounding 105-64 win over Czechia, concluding the FIBA World Cup Group Phase. In this match, Clark scored nine points on 3-for-8 shooting and provided seven assists, contributing significantly to the win.
With a perfect 3-0 record in their group games, Clark and Team USA advanced to the final phase of the 2026 FIBA World Cup. They await the winner of the Hungary-Japan game for their quarterfinal match-up.