USA Women Defeat Puerto Rico in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The U.S. women’s national team claimed its second victory in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, defeating host Puerto Rico 91-48. However, the win came with notable challenges, as the team struggled to maintain its usual rhythm. Caitlin Clark, who scored eight points, acknowledged the game’s uneven nature, calling it “a little clunky.” She noted that the team did not play to its full potential, despite a strong performance in their previous game against Senegal. The U.S. team’s performance against Puerto Rico contrasted sharply with their earlier win. On Wednesday, the squad displayed exceptional offensive flow and chemistry, appearing as if they had been playing together for a long time. This cohesion was absent in Thursday’s game, where the U.S. faced difficulties moving the ball, lost momentum, and committed 14 turnovers. Clark attributed part of the struggle to Puerto Rico’s zone defense, which disrupted the team’s transition game. However, she emphasized that many of the mistakes were self-inflicted, stemming from lapses in defensive coverage and communication. Head coach Kara Lawson echoed Clark’s assessment, stating that the team’s breakdowns resulted from a combination of factors. She highlighted the importance of precise defensive execution and adapting to opponents’ increased skill levels. “When your opponent increases in difficulty, they have more skill and power to exploit the things we are not doing well,” Lawson said. The coach also stressed the need for the team to refine its strategies as they continue to build chemistry. Despite having some of the world’s top basketball talent, Team USA is still in the process of developing team identity and cohesion.#paige_bueckers #kara_lawson #caitlin_clark #usa_women_team #fiba_world_cup_qualifiers
