Caitlin Clark had an impressive performance in her Team USA debut, leading a roster full of WNBA All-Stars to a massive victory over China on Friday. In the win, she tallied 14 points, making 4 of 9 field goals, and set a new record with 11 assists, the most for any player in their FIBA Women's World Cup debut. She also became the first player to achieve double-digit assists in a World Cup game since Dawn Staley did so with Team USA in 1998.
Clark's incredible debut brought a major surge in people ordering, or attempting to order, her Team USA jerseys in Europe, even outnumbering jersey orders of some popular European soccer stars. It's worth noting that this is a new jersey for fans, enthusiasts, and collectors who want to celebrate or support Clark. She wears No. 22 for the WNBA's Indiana Fever but is wearing the No. 12 for Team USA at FIBA.
More news: Team USA’s Caitlin Clark Makes History in FIBA World Cup Debut According to Fever Updates, demand for Clark's jersey reportedly increased 500% after Team USA's game against China, creating a serious problem for Nike, as the company's website went down. Clark's popularity was already undeniable within the WNBA. She had the league's top-selling jersey in her rookie season in 2024 and continues to draw attention to her games and associated products.
She'll also have her Nike signature Caitlin Clark shoes, which are likely going to have plenty of sold out launches and releases due to her popularity. Her first signature shoe, the Nike Caitlin 1 officially debuts early next month and features various colorways. The three-time All-Star is continuing to shine and set records as a member of the league's Indiana Fever.
In her third season, she's been mentioned among MVP contenders alongside teammate Kelsey Mitchell. Clark and Team USA will return to play their next Group Phase game on Sunday, when they take on Italy at 2:45 p.m. ET, and it wouldn't be surprising if another dazzling performance leads to more issues for Nike.
More news: Team USA’s Caitlin Clark Decision Sparks Backlash at FIBA World Cup For more about the WNBA and FIBA World Cup, visit Newsweek Sports.
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