Howard, Clark shine as USA cruise past Senegal in World Cup Qualifying Tournament

By Maxwell Kumoye 

 

 

The United States Women's National Basketball Team began their campaign at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in dominant fashion, crushing Senegal Women's National Basketball Team 110–46 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

It was a commanding all-round performance from the Americans, with all 12 players on the roster getting on the scoresheet and six athletes making their senior national team debuts.

Rhyne Howard led the scoring from the bench with 21 points, shooting an impressive 6-of-9 from three-point range while also grabbing five rebounds.

Caitlin Clark also shone on her senior team debut, posting 17 points and 12 assists to control the tempo of the game.

Head coach Kara Lawson, who secured her first victory in charge of the team, praised the squad’s energy after a short preparation period.

“We’ve had a short lead-up, but our focus and energy have been good, and I thought that carried over today,” Lawson said.

The Americans quickly asserted control after trailing briefly at the start, launching a 15–0 run to seize momentum. 

Veteran forward Kahleah Copper played a key role in the surge, scoring six points during the stretch and finishing with 10 points.

USA’s shooting was exceptional throughout the contest. The team converted 58.7 percent of their field goals (37-of-63) and drained 17-of-31 attempts from beyond the arc. 

Back-to-back three-pointers from Clark, Howard and Kelsey Plum helped extend the lead to 48–17 late in the second quarter.

Howard caught fire in the first half, knocking down four of her five three-point attempts to help the Americans race to a commanding 59–19 halftime advantage.

The momentum continued after the break, with the U.S. stretching the lead to 44 points before Senegal briefly responded with a 5–0 run late in the third quarter. 

A basket from Angel Reese restored order as the Americans moved further ahead.

The fourth quarter brought more long-range fireworks, with Clark and Rae Burrell hitting consecutive three-pointers to cap a dominant night for the hosts.

“We feel like we have a lot of weapons on this team,” Lawson added. “We want to get out and run and be unselfish, and I thought those things came to fruition today.”

Defensively, the Americans were just as impressive, holding Senegal to 26.3 percent shooting from the field while forcing 20 turnovers that translated into 28 points.

Among the debutants, Monique Billings contributed 10 points and five rebounds off the bench, while Paige Bueckers added nine points, four rebounds and three assists in her first appearance for the national team.

Lawson said the debuts made the night even more special for the squad.

“It’s an exciting day when you get to make your debut for the U.S. Women’s National Team. It’s a dream come true for many of them, and I thought they played well,” she said.