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As anticipated, Team USA had no trouble dispatching Senegal in their Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament opener in San Juan on Wednesday.
The Americans won 110-46, dominating every statistical category.
To try to slow the US offense, Senegal packed the paint defensively, striving to use their length crowd Team USA and cajole them into mistakes. Although that approach worked on a few occasions, when players opted for isolation drives instead of getting the defense into rotation before penetrating, the 110 points that the Americans rang up are evidence that, regardless of strategy, the Senegalese were going to be overmatched.
The lopsided outcome still provided meaningful lessons for Team USA. Many likely will consider Caitlin Clark’s return to form the headliner. After a second WNBA season interrupted by injuries, Clark looked like herself as she tallied an efficient double-double of 17 points and 12 assists in less than 20 minutes.
Clark was part of the Americans’ first wave of substitutions. The veteran foursome of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper and Dearica Hamby got the start, along with Angel Reese. Clark served as the point guard for the second unit, taking the court with Kelsey Plum, Rhyne Howard, Kiki Iriafen and Monique Billings.
Howard’s performance might have been the most consequential, and not just because she led the team in scoring with 21 points.
It’s Rhy Time for Team USA
In the WNBA and Unrivaled, Howard regularly operates with the ball in her hands, a role requisite of her talent.
But on a national team squad stacked will primary ball handlers, Howard can work almost exclusively off the ball, which unleashes an optimized Rhyne. Howard was 6-for-9 from 3 on Wednesday, catching, shooting and burying open triples with her characteristic ease.
This more contained catch-and-shoot offensive role then gives Howard more energy to divert to the defensive end. A 6-foot-2, Howard is capable of guarding just about any position, with the quickness necessary to chase opposing perimeter players and the length required to cause problems for opposing bigs. While Senegal did not present any serious challenges, the competition in September’s actual World Cup most likely will.
The theoretical final World Cup roster for Team USA features plenty of potential guards and bigs. In addition to those competing in San Juan, the likes of A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Alyssa Thomas and Sabrina Ionescu, all of whom were 2024 Olympians, will be final roster candidates.
Wings, especially wings with size and length, profile as the shallowest position group for Team USA, with Young and Copper being the only two with national team experience on the biggest stages.
Except, Howard might be there to perfectly fill the void.
Team USA takes on Puerto Rico
Today, Team USA is back at it against the hosts, playing Puerto Rico at 8 p.m. ET (truTV).
The rotational adjustments head coach Kara Lawson chooses to make—from the starting lineup to the allocation of minutes to player combinations—will continue to be most interesting, even if the Puerto Ricans, featuring former WNBA players Arella Guirantes and Imani McGee-Stafford, along with a number of players with NCAA experience, should muster more of a challenge than Senegal.
On Wednesday, every American scored and saw at least 10 minutes of action. Howard and Plum were the minutes leaders with more than 21, with Young also sneaking over 20 minutes. Of the bigs, Billings, with her bursting energy, logged the most time; she finished with 10 points. Reese lead the Americans on the boards, grabbing eight in under 18 minutes.
Elsewhere around WWC Qualifiers
France likewise had little trouble in their first qualifier, routing the Philippines 115-66 behind 21 points and nine boards, in less than 19 minutes, from Dominique Malonga.
Also in Lyon, Germany bested Korea, 76-49, with Frieda Bühner assuming the starring role. A 6-foot-3 forward who had a brief stint at Florida during the 2022-23 NCAA season, the 21-year-old Bühner finished with 21 points, nine boards and four assists. Leonie Fiebichh added 16 points and five rebounds, while Nyara Sabally posted an 11-point and 11-rebound double-double. On Thursday, Germany meets the Philippines (12 p.m. ET), with France facing Columbia (3:30 p.m. ET).
Ezi Magbegor also paced her team to a comfortable win. Magbegor had 16 points and seven boards as Australia defeated Argentina, 91-65. The Opals are competing in the qualifying tournament in Istanbul, as is Hungary. A monster game from Dorka Juhász—35 points and nine boards—propelled the Hungarians past Japan, 77-65. Japan is next up for the Aussies (7:30 a.m. ET).
Canada, as too often has been the case on the international stage, had a disappointing result, losing to the hosts, Türkiye, 71-69. Nationalized player Kennedy Burke led the Turkish side with a 16-point and 11-rebound double-double. Sevgi Uzun contributed 12 points for the victors. Bridget Carleton had a big game for the Canadians, scoring 24 points, while Aaliyah Edwards added 10 points and six boards.
Trailing to start the fourth quarter, Canada grabbed the lead during the final frame. However, after a Kia Nurse triple gave the Canadians a two-point advantage with under two minutes to go, Canada would not score again, while Türkiye hit two more buckets to escape with win.
As the top three teams from each tournament qualify for the World Cup, Canada immediately has found themselves in a precarious position. On Thursday, they play Hungary (10:30 a.m. ET).
Brazil put themselves on the path to qualification with win over South Sudan, 94-79. Kamilla Cardoso came through with a huge double-double of 23 points and 17 rebounds. Damiris Dantas led Brazil with 25 points. Elsewhere in Wuhan, Belgium takes on the home team on Thursday (7:30 a.m. ET). Li Yueru had 21 points and 10 rebounds in China’s opening victory over Mali, 81-68.
All games are available via streaming through Courtside 1891 or MAX.
