Caitlin Clark and awards seem to go hand-in-hand. The very first year of her WNBA stint earned her the Rookie of the Year honor back in 2024. Since then, it has been a long and merry journey for the Indiana Fever star. Despite a little injury setback last season, the 24-year-old phenom seems to be back in her full glory.
Only recently, Clark was listed as Complex’s Top 10 Most Influential Female Athletes of 2025. And while that was surely a moment of celebration for the 2-time WNBA All-Star, the Iowa native had something big coming in. Making her debut in the Team USA jersey, Clark had the honor of being the Most Valuable Player.
Caitlin Clark Shines For Team USA On Her Debut
Just a few days back, Clark was at risk of losing to Page Bueckers in the MVP race. But ultimately, the former Iowa star showed why she is still one of the best modern-day performers in the women’s basketball realm. According to Sports Illustrated, Caitlin Clark earned TISSOT MVP honors for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
Looking back at her performance, it surely was amazing. Coming back from a long injury layoff, there were significant concerns over her conditioning. But the opening game itself put all of those thoughts to rest. Playing against Senegal, Clark dropped a whopping 17 points.
🇺🇸 @CaitlinClark22 is the MVP of the #FIBAWWC Qualifying Tournament San Juan!
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) March 18, 2026
⭐️ 11.6 ppg
⭐️ 6.4 apg
🇺🇸 #USABWNT pic.twitter.com/73aqZQIAxc
She also had 12 assists and went 4-of-5 while shooting from the three-point mark. And that’s not all. With head coach Kara Lawson experimenting with her roster, the 2024 first-round pick had no problem adjusting to new combinations and playing her best game.
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Throughout the tournament, the 2024 Rookie of the Year might not have scored a ton of points. But she clearly looked sharp and, hands down, the best player from the lot. Clark also displayed glimpses of her two-way play while playing against New Zealand.
Meanwhile, having taken the realm by storm once again, the Fever star is feeling confident about her game.
Caitlin Clark Confident Of Being In ‘Best Possible Shape’
Team USA went undefeated in the qualifiers. And throughout the team’s 5-0 winning streak, the Fever star was the driving force. With averages of 11.6 points and 6.4 assists per game, Clark looked like she was back to business. With the 2026 WNBA season coming up, such a surge in her form will make the Fever front office smile more broadly. Speaking about her recent performance, the 24-year-old star too seemed pretty elated.
“I feel like I put myself in the best possible shape that I could be in at this point. Sometimes almost the first game is the hardest, but once you get in kind of the flow of things, and you figure things out, and you kind of get your wind back, you’re in a little bit better of a position,” said Clark, speaking with the ‘Indianapolis Star.’
Surely, things are finally going right for the 2-time WNBA All-Star. Trying to make amends for the last season, Clark is raring to go.