United States to Contest FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Puerto Rico
The United States women’s basketball team is preparing to compete in Puerto Rico in March, in the qualifying tournament for the FIBA World Cup. The Americans, already qualified for the World Cup to be held next year in Germany, are in a competitive group. The group includes Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Senegal, and Spain.The match schedule for the United States is as follows:
- March 11 vs. Senegal
- March 12 vs. Puerto Rico
- March 14 vs. Italy
- March 15 vs. New Zealand
- March 17 vs. Spain
Clark has been out of the courts since mid-July due to groin and ankle injuries. Although Clark is very likely to be present, the American team is unlikely to have its coach, Kara Lawson. The Duke women’s team coach was recently named the U.S. Olympic coach for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The World Cup qualifying tournament will take place just before the start of the NCAA Tournament. It is expected that the 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, in Miami, will finish its season before the start of the qualifying tournament. FIBA will also organize qualifying tournaments in Istanbul, Lyon-Villeurbanne, France; and Wuhan, China. Belgium, Australia, and Nigeria are already qualified for the World Cup, as is Germany, the host country. The three best-performing teams, excluding those already qualified in Istanbul, China, and Puerto Rico, will advance to the World Cup. In France, the two best teams, excluding Germany and Nigeria, will also advance.“There are some things with USA Basketball that are probably my top priority right now to prepare, and I think that will help me prepare for next season as well,” Clark commented. “Obviously, then you have to prepare for USA Basketball in some way, so there are a lot of different things you have to figure out and balance. And, you know, I’ll be working on that a lot too.”
Caitlin Clark
