Paige Bueckers praises her chemistry with Caitlin Clark as Team USA eyes World Cup glory
Before this World Cup, Bueckers and Clark had won gold with the U.S. U-19 team back in 2019
Held every four years, the FIBA Women's World Cup has been completely dominated by the United States with 11 titles , capturing gold in every single edition since 1998, aside from a bronze finish in 2006, making them overwhelming favorites to secure their fifth consecutive world championship.
The tournament kicked off with basketball heavyweights like Spain , France , and the United States establishing immediate authority by crushing their respective opening opponents by margins of 30 or more points.
During Team USA's commanding 94-61 victory over China , Caitlin Clark electrified the floor off the bench to capture Player of the Game honors by logging a team-high 25 minutes, dishing out 11 assists , the most by an American player in 28 years, and dropping a game-best 14 points, tied directly with backcourt partner Paige Bueckers .
Paige Bueckers Chemistry With Caitlin Clark on the World Stage
The matchup also generated one of the tournament's most viral talking points when Bueckers was spotted standing next to China's towering 7-foot-3 center Zhang Ziyu , looking up in sheer astonishment.
When questioned after the final buzzer about her growing on-court synergy with Caitlin Clark, the Dallas Wings guard did not hesitate to praise her teammate's impact. "We know how to play well off of each other. She draws so much defensive attention, so a lot of the defense is worried about her and she has great vision as well," Bueckers remarked.
That assessment is entirely backed up by the box score, where Clark's record-setting 11 assists showcased her elite floor-mapping ability.
Because of her lethal perimeter shooting and exceptional ball security, she constantly commands collapsing double-teams, creating easy opportunities for her supporting cast, explaining why she also stands as the leading assist-maker in the current WNBA landscape.
Looking ahead, the road continues this Sunday when Team USA squares off against Italy, a squad fresh off defeating Czechia in their opening fixture. Following the Italian matchup, the Americans will wrap up Group D play on Monday against Czechia.
