United States to Face Puerto Rico in FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers
The United States team prepares to compete in Puerto Rico in March, within the framework of the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers. The Americans, already qualified for the World Cup to be held next year in Germany, are in a group that includes Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Senegal, and Spain. The competition calendar for the United States will begin on March 11 against Senegal, followed by a match against Puerto Rico the next day. The team will play against Italy on March 14 and against New Zealand the following day. The group stage will conclude on March 17 with a match between the United States and Spain. Before the qualifying tournament, one or two training camps are anticipated for the US team. These camps are very likely to include Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.Clark has been out of the courts since mid-July due to groin and ankle injuries. Although there is a high probability that Clark will participate, it is likely that the US team will not have its coach, Kara Lawson. The Duke women’s team coach was recently named US Olympic coach for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. The World Cup qualifying tournament will take place just before the start of the NCAA Tournament. The 3×3 basketball league, Unrivaled, in Miami, is expected to finish its season before the start of the qualifier. 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 highest-ranked teams in Istanbul, China and Puerto Rico, excluding those already qualified, will advance to the World Cup. In France, the two best teams, excluding Germany and Nigeria, will also advance.There are a few USA Basketball things that are probably my main priority right now that I need to prepare for, and I think that will help me prepare for next season as well,” Clark said. “But 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
