110-46 Team USA defeated Senegal in its first FIBA World Cup qualifier, showcasing the debut of six senior national team members including Caitlin Clark, the 2024 WNBA No. 1 pick.

Coach Kara Lawson emphasized depth as her key advantage, deploying a veteran starting lineup that included 2024 Olympic gold medalists Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray, while using bench units featuring Clark and Paige Bueckers to spark offense. The newcomers, including Clark (17 points, 12 assists) and Angel Reese (six points, eight rebounds), demonstrated immediate impact despite limited practice time.

Lawson's emphasis on chemistry-building through tournament games, rather than pre-tournament preparation, appears validated by the team's cohesive play. The group's recent experience at Unrivaled, where they competed against each other, is credited for fostering synergy. The United States faces four more qualifiers in Puerto Rico before advancing to the September World Cup in Germany.

The debut of Clark and her teammates marks a pivotal moment for Team USA's future, blending WNBA stars with veterans to build a cohesive unit under Lawson's new system.