Team USA defeats China in FIBA Women's World Cup opener

Team USA began its FIBA Women's World Cup campaign with a 94-61 victory over China on Friday. The Americans controlled the game throughout, holding a 27-14 lead after the first quarter and extending the advantage to 49-29 by halftime. Guards Paige Bueckers, Rhyne Howard, Jackie Young, and Caitlin Clark combined for 54 points in the effort. Clark recorded a double-double, finishing with 14 points and 11 assists, becoming the first USA guard to reach double-digit assists in a World Cup game since 1998. China was led by Luo Xinyu and Zhang Ziyu, who each contributed 13 points in the loss. Team USA continues its tournament schedule following this win, seeking to build on the momentum generated by the performance of its backcourt rotation.

• 3:19 PMYahoo Sports — USA vs. China box score: Full stats from 2026 FIBA World Cup group game