Caitlin Clark

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The USA Women’s National Team opened the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament with a 110-46 win over Senegal.

An all around team performance by the Americans saw each player on the 12-man roster score, and six players made their senior national team debuts. Rhyne Howard came off the bench to lead the U.S. with 21 points, while shooting 66.7% (6 of 9) from 3-point range to go with five rebounds.

“I thought it was good to get our feet wet,” said Kara Lawson, who picked up her first win as the USA Women’s National Team coach. “We’ve had a short leadup, but I think our focus has been good, our energy’s been good. And I thought that carried over today.”

The Americans were firing on all cylinders on offense as they shot an impressive 58.7% (37 of 63) from the field, including 54.8% (17 of 31) from 3-point range. Caitlin Clark helped control the tempo for the U.S. in her senior national team debut, tallying a double-double of 17 points and 12 assists.

“Caitlin brings this dynamic play to the offensive end,” Lawson said. “As much as she is dynamic as a scorer, she’s one of the most dynamic playmakers in the world as well.”

After trailing for just five seconds to start the game, the U.S. went on a 15-0 run and didn’t look back. Veteran Kahleah Copper helped settle the Americans into the game scoring six of the team’s 15 points in the run. Copper finished with 10 points.

Three straight 3-pointers from Clark, Howard and Kelsey Plum pushed USA’s lead to 48-17 late in the second quarter. Howard was on fire from beyond the arc, going 4-of-5 in the first half to help push the U.S. to a 59-19 lead heading into halftime.

Coming out of the break the U.S. picked up where they left off, extending its lead to 44 points before Senegal called a timeout. Senegal responded with a 5-0 run of their own late in the third quarter, before an Angel Reese bucket saw the Americans extend their lead 71-30.

USA didn’t slow down in the fourth, as they continued to put on a clinic from three, capping the night off with back-to-back threes by Clark and Rae Burrell.

“We feel like we have a lot of weapons on this team,” Lawson said. “We can get out and run and we want to be unselfish as well. Those are the things we kind of talk about and emphasize, and I thought they came to fruition for us in the game.”

Defensively, the Americans were locked in from the start as they held Senegal to shooting just 26.3% (15 of 57) from the field. The U.S. forced Senegal into 20 turnovers which led to 28 USA points.

Monique Billings and Paige Bueckers both came off the bench for their debuts. Billings got 10 points and five rebounds. Bueckers had nine points, four boards and three assists.

“It’s an exciting day when you get to make your debut for the U.S. Women’s National Team,” said Lawson. “It’s a dream come true for a lot of them, and I thought they played well.”

Next up, USA will be back in action Thursday against the host nation, Puerto Rico, at 7 p.m.

United States Women’s National Team

At San Juan, Puerto Rico

Wednesday, March 11 Senegal W,110-46

Thursday, March 12 Puerto Rico, 7 p.m. (truTV, HBO Max)

Saturday, March 14 Italy, 4 p.m. (truTV, HBO Max)

Sunday, March 15 New Zealand, 1 p.m. (truTV, HBO Max)

Tuesday, March 17 Spain, 4 p.m. (truTV, HBO Max)