Caitlin Clark has received a golden opportunity, and she is grabbing it with both hands. Ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, the Indiana Fever star is getting into her rhythm. And this has been possible because the 24-year-old is playing the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.
Coming back after a long hiatus, the Fever star has kept things real. The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year asked her fans to keep a realistic expectation. Likewise, while she dominated her debut game, Clark had some significant difficulties in her second game in Team USA colors.
Caitlin Clark Struggles In Kara Lawson’s New Rotation
The former Iowa star blasted 17 points and 12 rebounds against Senegal. Setting the tone for an epic comeback, the hopes were pretty high when she suited up for her second game in a span of two days. Unfortunately, contrary to expectations, the 24-year-old failed to put up impressive numbers.
As the USA registered a dominant 91-48 victory, the Fever star looked rusty in her approach. Playing for 16 minutes, Clark could only manage eight points, two assists, and three rebounds. However, a deeper dive into her performance will unearth something interesting. The team tried a different rotation against Puerto Rico.
Caitlin Clark vs Puerto Rico:
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) March 13, 2026
8 points
2 assists
3 rebounds
16 minutes
Another USA win! pic.twitter.com/5ZeSd9pZHX
Trying different combinations ahead of the World Cup, Clark came in to play the last five minutes of each quarter. In turn, had different combinations each time she stepped in. While in the first quarter, her partners were Angel Reese, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, and Kahleah Copper. In the final quarter, she concluded with Howard, Reese, Rae Burrell, and Monique Billings.
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Thus, adjusting to so many different combinations might have been a bit difficult for the 2-time WNBA All-Star. Meanwhile, the fans had quite a concerning phase as Clark suffered an injury scare.
Did Caitlin Clark Injure Herself Once Again?
The last time Clark got injured, she could only play 13 games for the Indiana Fever last year. And that also resulted in her missing eight months of primetime action. Thus, another injury to the Fever star sounds nothing short of a nightmare for her fans.
Playing in the second quarter, the 24-year-old got fouled at the 3-point line. As she thudded to the ground, Clark appeared to have injured her finger. Writhing in pain, the WNBA icon clutched her hand tightly and tried to shake off the discomfort.
Thankfully, the injury was not serious. Throughout the remainder of the game, the finger didn’t appear to bother her. She also did not have any tapes on her fingers.
Next up, the USA will face Italy, New Zealand, and Spain. Fans will be eager to note how Clark performs in those games.