The United States women’s basketball team defeated China 94-61 on Friday, September 4, 2026, in the opening game of the World Cup in Berlin. Caitlin Clark recorded 14 points and 11 assists to lead the U.S. to its 31st consecutive World Cup victory.
The Americans entered the tournament with a transitioning roster featuring young players such as Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. China countered with significant height, led by 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu, who stands 7-foot-3 and was making her first appearance in a World Cup.
The U.S. established an early lead, ending the first quarter up 27-14. China narrowed the gap to 33-25 in the second quarter following Zhang’s first basket, but the U.S. responded with a 16-4 run to lead 49-29 at halftime. Zhang finished the game with 13 points, while her teammate Han Xu, who stands 6-foot-10, contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds. Rhyne Howard and Jackie Young also scored in double digits for the U.S., with 14 and 12 points respectively.
The scale of the competition involves a 16-team field where the four group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals. By winning the opener by a 33-point margin, the U.S. positioned itself at the top of its group standings. A person following the tournament would notice the U.S. strategy focused on double-teaming China's interior players to mitigate a height disadvantage, as China utilized two players standing at least 6-foot-10 simultaneously during the third quarter.
The knock-on effects of this opening day include immediate pressure on other Group winners to maintain pace. In other tournament action, Japan set a team record by making 20 three-pointers in a 102-97 win over Mali, while host Germany fell to Spain 83-53. These results set the early bracket for the knockout stages. What happens next is a continuation of pool play on Saturday, September 5, 2026, when the U.S. faces Italy and China plays the Czech Republic. France will face the Republic of Korea, and Spain will play Mali as the opening round progresses.