‘Humble’ Caitlin Clark Gives USA Basketball Teammates Props After Record-Setting 11 Assists

The time has arrived for Caitlin Clark to make her senior USA Basketball debut, and it was as memorable as it could get, with the point guard showcasing her all-round talent in front of the world.

With veteran playmaker Chelsea Gray in the lineup, there was no way head coach Kara Lawson was going to let the younger superstar start the game.

But Lawson knew she had to experiment with lineups to give her players time to play with everyone. That is what saw Clark take to the court before her other Young N Turnt teammates.

She started with some assists to veterans Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and Jackie Young before scoring her first points. Then, after launching her signature long-range three-pointer, the Indiana Fever star got down to helping her teammates.

By halftime, the 24-year-old amassed a game-high six assists. Watching how Caitlin Clark was leaning into her playmaking role, Lawson allowed her to play the most minutes. By the end of it, she registered 11 assists, which broke the record for most assists set by an American women’s basketball player.

Anybody I pass the ball to, it feels like they’re never gonna miss a shot.

Caitlin Clark told reporters

This was her ‘humble’ side, giving credit to her teammates. She knows having the best players in the world makes her job easier. Clark also managed to avoid registering a turnover, something she constantly battles with in the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark and Young N Turnt dominated Team USA performances

After the veterans opened the game and built a decent lead, it was time to see whether the Young N Turnt had it in them to take the physicality and demands of international basketball.

Initially, when all five players on the floor were made up of the younger stars, China managed to creep back into the deficit. But then, once they shook off the rust after last playing together at the regional qualifiers in March, the seven started to get into a rhythm.

Unsurprisingly, Aliyah Boston and Rhyne Howard were the first to cash in on Clark’s assists. The former being her Indiana Fever teammate was evident in their chemistry, and playing in Puerto Rico helped the point guard remember how open Howard can get.

Paige Bueckers followed, then Kiki Iriafen. But what fans back home were waiting for was to see Angel Reese work together with her longtime rival. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Dream superstar directed Sonia Citron to pass the ball to an open Clark, and her three was on the money.

Then, with a smidge over a minute left, Reese set a screen for Clark, and the latter dished an easy bounce pass to the former LSU star. Her layup was easy enough to net her rival her 10th assist of the night. Clark’s final assist was to Citron, which ensured that every member of Team USA scored.

Caitlin Clark and her leading four Young N Turnts accounted for 54 of Team USA’s 94 points on the night. That is 57% of the team’s scoring. It seems this FIBA World Cup is going to be the moment this young lineup takes the baton from their vets.

Caitlin Clark to continue playing off the bench against Italy

Team USA will next face Italy in their second Group Game on September 7. With time on their hands, the team can get some valuable rest. Unlike other teams, they are coming off playing in the WNBA regular season.

Caitlin Clark may have finished the game with team highs in efficiency, +/-, assists, and a joint-high in points. But that does not mean that Kara Lawson will immediately hand over the starting point guard job.

The going will get tougher once the knockout stages arrive, and that is where the head coach will start leaning more on the vets than the younger players. At the Paris Olympics, France almost ended the Americans’ run of winning gold.

They will be hoping to take advantage of the fact that Team USA’s best player, A’ja Wilson, is not in Germany. Therefore, unless something drastic happens, expect Caitlin Clark to continue playing backup to Chelsea Gray. It might be good for the long run, as she will get to learn from one of the best to ever play in that position.

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