Caitlin Clark leads Team USA at World Cup amid WNBA pause
Caitlin Clark's Team USA moment arrives Sept. 4 in Berlin, where she and Angel Reese must work together while the WNBA pauses its 2026 season for two weeks. The former college and WNBA rivals join A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart on a roster Sue Bird built to defend four straight World Cup titles and an active 30-game win streak.
The U.S. is headed to a battle in Berlin as Americans root together for their biggest stars on the world stage. What happens there could shape the climate of the league players return to when the WNBA season resumes.
Key Takeaways
- Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers make their FIBA senior World Cup debuts Sept. 4–13 in Berlin under coach Kara Lawson.
- Team USA opens against China at 8:15 a.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 4, in Group D alongside Italy and Czechia.
- The Americans have not lost a World Cup game since Russia beat them 75-68 in 2006 and hold the title since 2010.
- Clark and Reese went 5-0 at March's qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico, where Clark earned MVP honors.
- TNT holds exclusive U.S. English-language rights; all 36 games stream on Max, with 17 airing on TNT and truTV.
Why must Clark and Reese work together now?
Clark and Reese have spent more than three years framed as adversaries, from the 2023 NCAA national championship through a 2024 tournament rematch and their WNBA Rookie of the Year race. Every matchup, foul, and postgame comment invited fans to choose a side.
Yet they have shown glimpses of partnership. Reese told the Wall Street Journal in October 2024 that "one day, hopefully, we can be teammates." At the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, Clark recorded 10 assists and Reese finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds in Team WNBA's victory over the U.S. Olympic team.
In March, they helped the U.S. go 5-0 at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico. Clark averaged 11.6 points and a tournament-leading 6.4 assists to earn MVP honors. Reese averaged a team-high eight rebounds while shooting 52.2 percent from the field.
"Team chemistry is everything," Reese said during qualifying. "Everybody's not going to be able to do everything that they do on their respective team." They will now play alongside established champions including Napheesa Collier and Chelsea Gray.
When does Caitlin Clark's Team USA World Cup debut start?
Clark makes her FIBA senior World Cup debut on Friday, Sept. 4, when the U.S. faces China at 8:15 a.m. ET in Berlin. Paige Bueckers and Reese debut alongside her on a team that will compete through Sept. 13.
Group D play continues Sunday, Sept. 6, against Italy at 2:45 p.m. ET, and Monday, Sept. 7, against Czechia at 2:45 p.m. ET. Quarterfinals begin Thursday, Sept. 10, with semifinals on Saturday, Sept. 12, and the final on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. ET.
For the full schedule and broadcast details, see USA Today's World Cup guide. Lauren Jbara hosts the studio show with Renee Montgomery and Tina Charles, while Brendan Glasheen calls games with Sarah Kustok.
What is at stake for the United States in Berlin?
The Americans enter defending four consecutive World Cup championships and an active 30-game win streak. The WNBA notes that the tournament's history is a story of pioneers, champions, and generations who carried the game on their shoulders — a legacy this roster now inherits.
The opener against China is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup final. There have been 15 World Cup and Olympic meetings between the countries, and the U.S. has won all 15. Two of those victories came at the 2022 tournament, including an 83-61 final win on China's National Day.
FIBA cut the field to 12 teams for Sydney in 2022 but expanded it back to 16 for Berlin, with four groups and a play-in round. Belgium won EuroBasket, Australia won the Asia Cup, and Nigeria won AfroBasket. Germany hosts and has never finished better than 11th.
How does the WNBA break change what fans watch?
At home, the WNBA takes a two-week break from hosting the chaos of the 2026 season while its biggest names compete abroad. That pause concentrates American attention on one national roster rather than divided loyalties across franchises.
The broadcast setup reflects how global sports reach audiences today. TNT carries exclusive U.S. English-language rights, every U.S. game airs on TNT, and all 36 games stream on Max — a model our Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage tracks as leagues blend live events with streaming platforms.
When Clark, Reese, and their teammates return from Berlin, the story they bring back — chemistry built or tensions unresolved — may follow them into the WNBA's stretch run.