Clark’s Buzzer-Beater Cuts France’s Lead to 43-45 at Halftime
BERLIN — Caitlin Clark just reminded everyone why she’s still the most dangerous weapon on this USA roster.
With seconds ticking down in the second quarter, Clark caught the ball at the top of the arc, rose up over a closing defender, and drilled a deep three at the buzzer. The shot sliced France’s lead to just 43-45 heading into the locker room.
Limited Minutes, Maximum Impact
Clark played only 4:30 in the first half, but she made every second count. She finished the opening frame with 3 points on 1-of-2 shooting from beyond the arc, plus a rebound. More importantly, her buzzer-beater halted a French run that had pushed the lead to 14 at one point.
This isn’t the first time Clark has shown ice in her veins on this stage. In her World Cup debut, she posted 14 points and 11 assists — setting a USA record for assists in a World Cup debut. Yet her minutes have remained limited throughout the tournament.
France Comes Out Swinging
France has looked every bit the contender that pushed the USA to the brink in the 2024 Paris Olympics final — a game the Americans escaped with a 67-66 win. Behind aggressive perimeter defense and red-hot shooting, France built a double-digit lead early in the second quarter. They arrived in this final off an 86-64 blowout of host Germany in the semifinals.
USA head coach Kara Lawson leaned heavily on her veterans in the first half. Breanna Stewart and Chelsea Gray carried much of the load, trying to match France’s physicality. But France’s efficiency on both ends kept the Americans playing catch-up.
The Clark Debate Rages On
Clark’s playing time has been the biggest storyline of the tournament. WNBA reporter Aya Abdeen questioned on social media whether Clark was ready for France’s level of physicality, pointing to her 1-point, 0-for-9 shooting stretch across games against Italy and Spain.
But plenty of voices argue Lawson has been too conservative. The USA offense stalled in the semifinal against Spain, managing just 76 points, with Clark getting only three shot attempts in 16 minutes.
What’s Next?
The big question for the second half: does Lawson ride her veterans, or does she finally unleash Clark?
France’s game plan is clear — body up the young guards, disrupt the flow, force turnovers. But Clark’s buzzer-beater served as a warning: give her an inch, and she’ll change the game.
The USA is chasing a sixth straight World Cup title and a 72nd consecutive international win. France is hungry for revenge after that one-point heartbreak in Paris.
At 43-45, it’s anyone’s game. And if Clark gets more run in the second half, that halftime triple might be remembered as the moment this gold medal game turned.
