Indiana Fever Star Caitlin Clark will play his first match in eight months on Wednesday March 11.
But don’t expect Clark to play big minutes on the U.S. FIBA World Cup qualifying team, playing in Puerto Rico from March 11-17. Kara Lawson, USA basketball coach and her team will determine which lineups work best and two other point guards – veteran Chelsea Gray and fellow rookie Paige Bueckers – are also on the roster.
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“It’s a different step,” Clark said. “You’re not going to come here and be the star player. That’s not how it’s going to be for USA Basketball. You’re going to find a way to help the team win. You’re going to find a way to compete to the best of your ability.”
Team USA plays Senegal on Wednesday (5 p.m. ET, TNT/HBO Max), marking Clark’s first game since July 15, when she strained her right groin in Boston against the Connecticut Sun. The strain, her fourth muscle strain of the season, knocked her out of the WNBA All-Star Game. An ankle injury in early August forced her to miss the remainder of the WNBA season as the Fever advanced to the semifinals.
After a long rehabilitation and training to get back to 100%, Clark is ready to go. This will be his debut for the USA Basketball senior national team. She admits to some butterflies.
“Maybe nerves, to some extent, but probably almost like butterflies,” Clark said. “It’s a super cool opportunity. And if you don’t feel that way, you probably don’t care enough. That’s certainly how I feel about it.
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“I haven’t played basketball in eight months, so I get to do it at this level for the first time, like there’s no better way than to throw myself into the fire and figure it out…I’m going to be excited and probably a little anxious, but in a good way.”
USA Basketball has already qualified for the World Cup, which runs Sept. 4-13 in Berlin, but the organization is participating in the qualifying tournament to recruit representatives for younger players and test rosters and rotations.
How to watch Team USA: schedule
All times Eastern
|
March 11 |
United States vs. Senegal |
5 p.m. |
truTV, DIRECTVHBO Max |
|
March 12 |
Puerto Rico vs. United States |
8 p.m. |
truTV, DIRECTV, HBO Max |
|
March 14 |
United States vs. Italy |
5 p.m. |
truTV, DIRECTV, HBO Max |
|
March 15 |
New Zealand vs USA |
2:00 p.m. |
truTV, DIRECTV, HBO Max |
|
March 17 |
Spain vs. United States |
5 p.m. |
TNT, DIRECTV, HBO Max |
Team USA 2026 Women’s World Cup Qualifying – Team Roster
Below are the players selected to represent the United States in the upcoming FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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This article was originally published on USA TODAY: How well will Caitlin Clark play for the United States in FIBA World Cup qualifying?
