Caitlin Clark's Last Team USA Appearance Set Stage for Strong Fever Run

Caitlin Clark found success in her return to the court from injury for Team USA in March during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Caitlin Clark practicing for Team USA | Caitlin Clark (17) looks for a pass during a scrimmage | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

The 2026 season has gone much better for Caitlin Clark than her 2025 campaign for the Indiana Fever did.

That's because Clark's sophomore WNBA season was marred by injuries, and she only appeared in 13 games as a result. But in between the disappointment of her season ending early last year, and her dominance on the court in her third professional season came a pit stop in Puerto Rico.

Clark made her return to competitive action at USA Basketball camp in December, before taking the floor in her senior national team debut with Team USA in March during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in San Juan. The U.S. had already qualified for the actual World Cup tournament which starts this Friday from Berlin, Germany, but participated to get the reps in and for parts of the roster to gain some experience together.

The qualifiers in March marked Clark's first game time since July of 2025. Unsurprisingly, she went on to thrive, capturing tournament MVP honors while leading Team USA in both total points and assists.

This successful stint helped set the tone for her strong 2026 WNBA season, even if she did need to acclimate herself to full minutes, the rigors of the schedule, and regain complete trust in her body again to begin the year.

She has since clearly done all that, and is playing the best basketball of her career. She will resume her season with the Fever later in September, but in the meantime is back on the floor for Team USA in their attempt to snare another gold medal at the World Cup.

Can Clark Have MVP Encore?

It remains to be seen what the lineup rotation and minutes distribution will be for Team USA, but Clark figures to see the floor plenty. Given her penchant for playmaking on top of her scoring ability, Clark seems like a prime candidate to once again win MVP.

Of course, her shot at that award will be dependent on playing time and how the U.S. performs. But if Clark's past precedent and Team USA's track record are any indication, then it's a solid bet that she will be among the frontrunners for the hardware.

And as is always the case with Clark, she will be ready to put on a show—this time on the world stage before returning to the states and attempting to win a WNBA championship with the Fever.