Caitlin Clark Leads USA Basketball vs. Spain: Live Scores, Stats, Highlights
USA Basketball closed its FIBA World Cup qualifying run with an 84-70 victory over Spain. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, 24, came off the bench and finished with seven points and seven assists.
Final score and context
The Americans completed the qualifying tournament unbeaten at 5-0. The U.S. had already clinched a World Cup berth for September in Berlin, Germany.
Kahleah Copper led the team with 20 points. Kelsey Plum added 18 points in the win.
Key moments from the game
The U.S. led 21-16 after the first quarter. Clark hit a 3-pointer, made two free throws, and recorded two assists in that frame.
At halftime, the score was 44-32 in favor of the Americans. Plum paced the team with 10 first-half points.
By the end of the third quarter, the U.S. held a 61-47 edge. Clark assisted on 3-pointers by Copper and Paige Bueckers, then stole a pass and scored in transition.
Notable opposition performance
Megan Gustafson, a former University of Iowa player, scored seven early points for Spain. The U.S. improved its record versus Spain to 10-0, with the teams last meeting in 2016.
Caitlin Clark’s tournament series
Clark averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 assists across the five qualifying games. She played a role mixture of starts and reserve minutes.
- Opening game vs Senegal: 19 minutes, 17 points, 12 assists, two turnovers in a 110-46 win.
- Second game vs Puerto Rico: eight points, three rebounds, two assists in a 91-48 victory.
- Third game vs Italy: 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting, five assists and a steal in a 93-59 win.
- Fourth game: her first senior-team start produced 14 points, six assists and two steals.
Tournament setting and purpose
The qualifying event was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. USA Basketball used the slate to give younger players additional game experience.
Fans tracked live scores, stats, highlights and in-game developments throughout the trip. The Spain game tipped at 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 17.
Looking ahead
With qualification secured, Team USA will prepare for September’s FIBA World Cup in Berlin. Evaluations from this tournament will factor into final roster decisions.
