In Berlin, the US women's basketball team routed China 94-61 in the opening game of the World Cup. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers made the most of their World Cup debuts. Clark had 14 points and 11 assists, while Bueckers added 14 points. This was the first of likely many times the duo will play together in the US backcourt over the next decade.
"It's just organic. We know how to play well off of each other," Bueckers said. "She draws so much defensive attention, so a lot of the defense is worried about her."
Clark loved having so many offensive options, including Bueckers.
"Obviously being around so many talented players, obviously our guards are incredible and our bigs too, but you know anybody I pass the ball to, it feels like they're never going to miss a shot," Clark said. "That's one of my goals when I come into the game — to facilitate."
Clark's 11 assists were the most by a US player since Dawn Staley had 12 against Russia in 1998, which tied her for the most ever with Teresa Edwards, who had a dozen against China in 1986.
The US beat China for the gold medal in the 2022 World Cup, but that Chinese team didn't have 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu. The 19-year-old had her own impressive debut in the World Cup, finishing with 13 points and hitting nine of her 10 free throws.
The US win streak at the World Cup now stands at 30 games. Next, they face France.