Ever wondered what it would be like if a duo like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson could dominate the Team USA Women’s Basketball team? It’s still a long way to go, but as far as we’ve seen of them at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers in San Juan, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers are giving off the same vibes, prompting an analyst to make a plausible assessment.

Speaking on his channel, veteran sports broadcaster and insider Robin Lundberg seemed in awe of CC and Bueckers’ flawless performance in Team USA’s backcourt amid their senior national team debut. He went a step beyond mere praise the next moment, claiming that the CC-Bueckers duo will be key for the national team in the future.

“In the second half, Caitlin got the ball more, got to do her thing a little bit more, completely and totally cooked in that second shift,” Lundberg said. “She was with Paige Bueckers again in that second half; that’s the back court for the future. They look so beautiful when they’re playing together because Paige can score very fluidly and play within the rhythm and all that. So, Caitlin had the ball here, drives in, swings it out to Paige, pure. I mean, that’s what we want to see.”

Lundberg’s assessment has made sense, though. It was an open secret that Clark and Bueckers would succeed whenever they suit up for the national team. But to do it in the very first tournament adds weight to the mettle of both these players. Both of them have been owning the team’s backcourt like no one else, with formidable scoring and playmaking, across the tournament, scoring 10+ points with ease in their limited minutes on the court.

A glimpse of it was also visible in the latest 101-46 blowout win over New Zealand. On the surface level, Clark impressed in her first national team start. She recorded 14 points and 6 assists, while Bueckers chipped in with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. But an even more standout factor in their stay on the court was how well they linked up with each other near the paint to convert shots from the corner.

This bonding and performance are clear indications that when Team USA’s backcourt is in safe hands, even when veteran guards like Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray call it a day. Besides Clark and Bueckers, Angel Reese also impressed with 9 points and 4 rebounds in her 18-minute stay on the court as the team clinched their fourth straight win of the tournament.

Given Team USA’s performance in the qualifiers, it’s fair to say they have fulfilled their agenda in this San Juan leg. As winners of the AmeriCup, the team’s last concern was qualification for the World Cup in Germany, but its foremost objective is letting the young guns gel for the major event in Berlin.

And as far as we’ve seen, the results are trending toward positive. Along with the brewing Clark-Bueckers chemistry, CC’s gesture of standing up for her pro rivals, Angel Reese, and not hesitating to bring them into offensive transitions, clearly validates this. With all these factors combined, Team USA is in quite a comfortable position for the World Cup in Berlin. But before they cap off this San Juan event, they have one final reckoning to deliver.

Caitlin Clark and Team USA Face a Resilient Spain in Their Next Game

The most anticipated game for Team USA at the World Cup qualifiers is a couple of nights away. Clark and Co. will face Spain in their final game of these qualifiers on March 17 in their San Juan campaign. With two teams taking the court, the hype around the game has been prevalent even before the tournament tipped off, but a lot has happened ever since.

Team USA played perfectly as the favorites, winning all of their games so far, courtesy of their Avengers team led by CC. On the other hand, Spain qualified for the World Cup in Berlin but lost their last game against Italy. Nevertheless, this record won’t mean anything for Team USA. Players like Awa Fam, Megan Gustafson, and Elene Buenavida have been fine-tuning their games during the tournament. And head coach Nate Tibbetts knows exactly that Spain will be their toughest opponent yet.

“As far as Spain goes, obviously, we know that’s a really good team,” Tibbetts said. “I’m sure they’ve been watching us like we’ve been watching them. They have got another game here today, we’ve got another opportunity to watch them. Tomorrow our players will start to focus on Spain a little bit more with some video of their personnel, and some of their sets and stuff. Really excited this is the last game of the tournament.”

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The burden of scoring will again fall on Caitlin Clark’s shoulders, as it has always been in the tournament. The Indiana Fever guard is currently leading the scoring charts for her team. If CC goes into a similar zone against Spain, it’s quite inevitable that Spain won’t have any answers for her. With the likes of an in-form Paige Bueckers and Chelsea Gray alongside her in the backcourt, and Angel Reese taking care of the frontcourt, Spain is possibly looking at what teams used to look towards Team USA’s Dream team, featuring Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.

The game is set to tip off at 5 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. PT. What are your expectations from this game? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments.