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Caitlin Clark Leads USA Toward Fifth Straight World Cup

9/10/2026

Summary

Clark Promises Win

Caitlin Clark says she will help the United States win a fifth straight World Cup.
She averaged 7.6 points and 6.3 assists during Berlin pool play.
In her debut versus China, Clark posted 14 points, 11 assists and no turnovers.
Coach Kara Lawson called her 4-for-16 three-point shooting a normal stretch.
She says Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s “only gold matters” advice shapes her team-first mindset.

Summary

Lawson Mulls Shuffle

Coach Kara Lawson may reshuffle the starting lineup before the quarterfinals, weighing Chelsea Gray’s low output against Clark’s playmaking.
USA will face Hungary in the quarterfinal on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 11:45 a.m. ET.
USA entered the knockout round on a 33-game World Cup winning streak, highlighted by a 41-point win over Czechia.

History

Historical Context

In 1996, the United States women’s basketball team captured its first Olympic gold in Atlanta, igniting a era of international dominance. Led by coach Tara VanDerveer and star player Lisa Leslie, the squad posted an 8-0 tournament record with a margin of 30 points per game. That triumph set a benchmark, leading Caitlin Clark, Kara Lawson, and Mike Krzyzewski to adopt a win-or-nothing mindset before the September 10 quarterfinal versus Hungary. Consequently, the program expects another gold, reinforcing a legacy that began in 1996 and shaping future international basketball strategies.

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Clark Promises Win

Caitlin Clark says she will help the United States win a fifth straight World Cup.
She averaged 7.6 points and 6.3 assists during Berlin pool play.
In her debut versus China, Clark posted 14 points, 11 assists and no turnovers.
Coach Kara Lawson called her 4-for-16 three-point shooting a normal stretch.
She says Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s “only gold matters” advice shapes her team-first mindset.

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