Caitlin Clark leads USA rout of China at World Cup
Clark had 14 points and 11 assists as the USA beat China 94-61 in Berlin, extending their World Cup winning streak to 31 games since 2006.
Caitlin Clark posted 14 points and 11 assists as the United States beat China 94-61 in their Fiba Women's Basketball World Cup opener in Berlin on Friday.
Rhyne Howard also scored 14 points and Jackie Young added 12 for the Americans, who have now won 31 consecutive World Cup games, a run stretching back to a semi-final defeat at the 2006 tournament.
China, led by the 7ft 3in Zhang Ziyu, went toe-to-toe with the US for stretches. The US pulled away in the first quarter to lead 27-14, with Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese all on court together to close it out despite none of the trio starting. It is a young roster for the Americans, and this tournament marks a period of transition.
Zhang, 19 and making her first World Cup appearance, caused problems at both ends. She stood under the basket on defence, limiting the US inside, and drew constant double-teams whenever she caught the ball on offence. Her first basket cut the gap to 33-25 with 6:21 left in the second quarter, but the US answered with a 16-4 run, built on a three-point play from Young and four points from Breanna Stewart, to lead 49-29 at the interval.
China went to a twin-tower look in the third quarter, pairing the 6ft 11in Han Xu alongside Zhang, and closed to 53-37. The US pulled away again, with Clark, Bueckers and Reese sparking a 17-5 run to end the period. Zhang finished with 13 points, making nine of 10 free-throws, while Han added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Americans, usually jeered by opposing crowds at international tournaments, had the Berlin fans behind them on Friday.
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