It took Caitlin Clark all of 25 minutes to end a USA Basketball drought that stretched back to 1998.
Before Clark handed out 11 assists in Team USA’s win over China on Friday, no American player had registered double-digit assists in a FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup game since Dawn Staley in 1998.
Staley is now the head coach at South Carolina. Clark is in the third year of her own WNBA career — and just starting her first competitive tournament with the United States’ senior national team.
MORE: Caitlin Clark introduced herself to the FIBA World Cup as only she could
Clark registered a 14-point, 11-assist double-double against China as the United States rolled to a 94-61 win in Berlin, Germany. More impressively, the Indiana Fever star committed no turnovers, and the US was a plus-30 in her 25 minutes.
Caitlin Clark is the first USA player with 10 assists in a World Cup game since Dawn Staley’s 12 assists vs. Russia in 1998
— Hunter Cruse (@HunterCruse14) September 4, 2026
It’s no surprise Clark touched down in Germany and immediately began slinging passes every which way.
Only Alyssa Thomas has more assists in 2026 than Clark, who is tied with the Phoenix Mercury forward for the league lead with 8.4 assists per game.
“Anybody I pass the ball to, it feels like they’re never gonna miss a shot,” Clark said after her first World Cup game.
It’s easy to feel that way in a star-studded US team, which has taken its first step toward a record-extending 12th World Cup title.
