Clark and Reese shine as Team USA rolls into the semifinals
Team USA delivered a commanding quarterfinal performance against Hungary, but the biggest talking points go beyond the final score. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese showed growing chemistry, while a balanced attack and strong defense helped the Americans advance.
What stood out most from the matchup, and what could their developing connection mean for the semifinals? Read on for the key moments, records and performances from the game.
A fast start creates early separation
The United States scored 20 of its first 26 shots during the opening half, including five of six three-pointers. That shooting helped Team USA take a 50-18 lead with six minutes remaining before halftime.
The Americans entered halftime ahead 59-30, setting a World Cup quarterfinal record for points in one half. Hungary never reduced the deficit to single digits after the opening period.
The offense sets a World Cup quarterfinal record
Team USA scored 108 points against Hungary, the highest total by a team in a Women’s World Cup quarterfinal. The Americans also made 40 field goals and finished 12-for-23 from three-point range.
The United States recorded 31 assists, becoming the first team to reach at least 30 in a World Cup quarterfinal. Those numbers reflected scoring from multiple players rather than one primary scorer.
Napheesa Collier leads the scoring
Napheesa Collier finished with a team-high 19 points and six rebounds against Hungary. She also received the Player of the Game honor after helping the United States establish control early.
Collier’s scoring came within a balanced attack that produced five American players in double figures. Rhyne Howard added 15 points, while Kahleah Copper, Caitlin Clark and Jackie Young each scored 10.
Caitlin Clark makes an impact as a passer
Caitlin Clark finished the quarterfinal with 10 points and nine assists, leading all players in assists. Her passing helped create scoring chances during a game in which the United States made 40 field goals.
Clark entered the Hungary matchup averaging 6.3 assists per game in the tournament. After four games, FIBA lists her at seven assists per game, keeping her among the tournament’s leading passers.
Angel Reese contributes inside
Angel Reese scored nine points and collected six rebounds against Hungary. She also recorded three assists, adding a passing contribution alongside her work near the basket.
Reese entered the tournament as one of Team USA’s leading rebounders. FIBA lists her at six rebounds per game through four contests, while she also ranks among the team leaders in steals and blocks.
Clark and Reese connect during the win
Clark and Reese produced a notable pick-and-roll late in the first quarter, with Reese finishing the play for a layup. Later, Reese returned the favor by finding Clark on a fast break for another score.
The sequence added to a connection that had already appeared during the group stage. Reese said after the Hungary game that the pair know each other’s games and continue building chemistry.
Their roles complement each other
Clark’s primary statistical strength for Team USA has been playmaking, while Reese has provided rebounding and interior production. Their roles give the national team two ways to create possessions and scoring opportunities.
FIBA lists Clark as the team’s assist leader at seven per game and Reese as its second-leading rebounder at six per game. Both players are making their senior World Cup debuts.
Team USA gets scoring from across the roster
Five United States players reached double figures against Hungary, while all 12 Americans scored during the game. The team shot 59% overall and connected on 12 of 23 attempts from three-point range.
The balanced production allowed Team USA to maintain a large lead without relying on one scorer. The Americans also recorded 17 steals and five blocks while limiting Hungary to 34% shooting.
Interesting fact: The United States has won nine FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup gold medals, more than any other country. The former Soviet Union ranks second with six titles.
The defense limits Hungary’s top scorer
The United States held Hungary to 56 points and limited the team to 34% shooting. Dorka Juhasz, Hungary’s leading scorer entering the game, made only 1 of 12 field-goal attempts and finished with 2 points.
Juhasz had been averaging 15.3 points and 11 rebounds in the World Cup before the quarterfinal. The American defense also held Hungary to 36.1% shooting on two-point attempts.
Interesting fact: Before joining the national team, Caitlin Clark ended her Iowa career with 3,951 points, making her the NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader in men’s and women’s basketball at the time.
Hungary reaches its first World Cup quarterfinal
Hungary reached the World Cup quarterfinals at the 2026 tournament for the first time under the modern format. The team arrived after winning four straight games, including an 84-63 qualification victory over Japan.
The quarterfinal ended Hungary’s tournament run with a 108-56 loss to the United States. Hungary had previously finished fifth in 1957, while it finished eighth in 1986, when the tournament used a different competition structure.
The win extends a long World Cup streak
The United States has now won 34 consecutive Women’s World Cup games, a run dating to the 2006 semifinal loss to Russia. The Americans have reached every World Cup medal round since the format changed in 1983.
The 108-56 result also gave Team USA its largest winning margin of the 2026 tournament so far. The Americans entered Berlin as the reigning World Cup champions after winning the 2022 title.
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Spain awaits in the semifinals
Spain defeated Australia 89-66 in the quarterfinals, setting up a semifinal against the United States on September 12 in Berlin. FIBA lists the semifinal for 20:00 local time, with the winner advancing to the championship game.
The United States has reached the semifinals 11 straight times since the round was introduced in 1986. Spain previously reached this stage in three consecutive World Cups from 2010 through 2018.
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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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