Caitlin Clark 'felt like I was effective' in return from injury, USA Basketball senior team debut

Story byIndyStar | The Indianapolis StarCaitlin Clark 'felt like I was effective' in return from injury, USA Basketball senior team debutCaitlin Clark 'felt like I was effective' in return from injury, USA Basketball senior team debutChloe Peterson, Indianapolis StarThu, March 12, 2026 at 12:58 AM UTC·4 min read

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — Caitlin Clark has been waiting for this moment. It’s something she’s been anticipating for years.

And on Wednesday night, the 24-year-old finally accomplished one of her lifelong goals: a debut on the USA Basketball senior national team. It was all the more sweet as her first game after an eight-month injury layoff — one that took away nearly her entire sophomore season with the Indiana Fever.

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“I was really just excited,” Clark said. “I’ve been preparing for this for a really long time, and was sick of just sitting on the bench cheering everybody else on. Like, obviously, (the injuries) probably taught me a lot about myself, but there's nothing like getting to run around out there and have fun with a group that’s so talented and so great.”

This was Clark’s first game since July 2025, when a right groin strain against the Connecticut Sun, then an ankle sprain during her recovery, ultimately took her out for the rest of the Fever season.

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, with Monique Billings, competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.Indiana Fever coach Stefanie White is an assistant coach for the USA in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.1 / 6

Caitlin Clark, USA Basketball photos in World Cup qualifying

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.1 / 6

Caitlin Clark, USA Basketball photos in World Cup qualifying

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.2 / 6

Caitlin Clark, USA Basketball photos in World Cup qualifying

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.3 / 6

Caitlin Clark, USA Basketball photos in World Cup qualifying

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, with Monique Billings, competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.4 / 6

Caitlin Clark, USA Basketball photos in World Cup qualifying

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.5 / 6

Caitlin Clark, USA Basketball photos in World Cup qualifying

Indiana Fever coach Stefanie White is an assistant coach for the USA in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.6 / 6

Caitlin Clark, USA Basketball photos in World Cup qualifying

Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever competes in World Cup qualifying in March 2026.

She spent the entire offseason working to get back to 100% from her injuries, then conditioning to get back in game shape. Clark played 3x3 and 5x5 against practice guys as part of her regimen, but she said nothing, really, can prepare for a true game environment.

“I think there were a couple of moments where I was like, sucking air,” Clark said with a laugh. “But I felt like I had my wind pretty well. I felt like I was playing really fast, and that was my main goal. I know that's what I can bring to this team, is tempo and pace.”

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She didn’t start, but maybe that was for the better, especially coming off her injuries. She played 19 minutes and was able to get the lay of the land, easing into her first senior international competition.

“Different than maybe a WNBA game but, for myself, it was a nice way to kind of ease back into it,” Clark said, “and felt like I was effective when I was out there. But more than anything, it just makes me happy that I'm super sweaty right now and I got to play.”

Clark was extremely effective in her debut, finishing with a 17-point, 12-assist double-double in a 110-46 USA win over Senegal. She racked up eight of those assists (with zero turnovers) in the first half, finding connections with Rhyne Howard and Monique Billings, and kept the momentum with a new lineup throughout the second half.

She finished the game with just two turnovers, easily finding teammates she has been working with for just four days. She was USA’s second-leading scorer behind only Howard’s 21.

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“She brings this dynamic play to the offensive end, I mean, that goes without saying,” USA Basketball coach Kara Lawson said of Clark. “And as much as she is dynamic as a scorer, she's one of the most dynamic playmakers in the world as well … So imagine being a dynamic playmaker, and then all of a sudden, you're playing alongside all these other dynamic playmakers and finishers. I thought she toggled between the play making, the scoring really well tonight and looked pretty comfortable out there.”

Ultimately, these games are scrimmages for USA Basketball. It has already punched its ticket to the World Cup in September in Berlin, Germany, so Lawson is using this five-game tournament to test out different lineups and rotations.

She did a lot of hockey-style lineup changes, replacing all five players at the under-five media timeout of each quarter. Clark played with multiple lineups throughout the game, including Kelsey Plum, Billings, Howard and Kiki Iriafen in the first half, then Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, Billings and Kahleah Copper in the second half.

“Don’t read a lot into it,” Lawson said. “We’ve talked about this with our players: The starting lineup is going to change, the rotations are going to change. As a coach, I’m in fact-finding mode … trying to find some chemistry and what combinations fit best together.”

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USA will now play four games in the next six days, including on Thursday against Puerto Rico. Expect to have more lineup and rotation changes as Lawson and her staff work to find the chemistry within her young group.

Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark stats, return from injury in USA vs Senegal women's basketball

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