The “ugly” reality behind the victory of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers with Team USA

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, the United States women’s national basketball team is showcasing both its elite talent and growing pains during the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament.

A pair of dominant victories has marked the beginning of this campaign, highlighted by long-awaited milestones and a splashy return to international competition for some of the sport’s brightest stars.

The storybook moments began with the senior national team debut of Caitlin Clark, who returned after an extended absence and quickly reminded the world of her scoring and playmaking prowess. In her first game back,

Clark poured in 17 points and dished out 12 assists, helping Team USA dominate Senegal in a 110-46 rout. Her ability to orchestrate the offense with poise and vision immediately established her as a central figure in this new-look team.

Hot on her heels was Paige Bueckers, donning the USA jersey for the first time in nearly seven years. Bueckers led the scoring effort in a 91-48 victory over Puerto Rico, adding 16 points while contributing across the stat sheet.

Her performance earned her a Player of the Game nod and marked a longanticipated return to the international stage. Fans and analysts alike were thrilled to see her scoring instincts, court vision, and versatility back in the fold, signaling that Bueckers could once again be a linchpin for Team USA.

Yet beneath the surface of these lopsided wins, a candid critique emerged from WNBA analyst Robin Lundberg about the team’s cohesion.

According to Lundberg, the victory over Puerto Rico was “almost completely in the other direction as far as how ugly it was,” highlighting how Team USA struggled to find rhythm and consistency despite its overwhelming talent advantage.

What the Puerto Rico game revealed

Lundberg described the squad as “just out of sync top to bottom,” a departure from the fluid play that had fans buzzing after the opening game.

While the talent gap was obvious, Puerto Rico never seriously challenged the Americans, the U.S. offense lacked cohesion and continuity at times, making parts of the performance “a little bit of a rough watch.”

Still, there were undeniable bright spots. Angel Reese delivered a gritty doubledouble with 10 points and 13 rebounds, underscoring her relentless work on the glass.

Meanwhile, Bueckers’ scoring instincts, Clark’s elite playmaking, and the defensive energy of the supporting cast added flashes of brilliance that remind observers of this roster’s championship ceiling.

The qualifier now shifts to matches against Italy, New Zealand, and Spain – teams USA is heavily favored to beat. Even so, analysts hope to see more polish in upcoming games. After all, while these qualifiers are part of the journey toward the 2026 FIBA World Cup in Berlin, the time to gel as a unit is now.