{
  "id": 5664467,
  "title": "Caitlin Clark makes eye-opening admission after facing China’s 7-foot-3 star",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/caitlin-clark-makes-eye-opening-admission-after-facing-chinas-7-foot",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-04T23:21:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/caitlin-clark-makes-eye-opening-232147907.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Caitlin Clark faced a unique challenge during her debut at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup when she took on China's 7-foot-3 center, Zhang Ziyu. The Indiana Fever star finished the game with 14 points, 11 assists, and three rebounds in 25 minutes. Zhang, who scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots, made the competition unlike anything Clark had experienced in college, WNBA, or international basketball. Clark acknowledged the unusual matchup, noting that she had never played against a woman of that size. Team USA attempted to neutralize Zhang's size by forcing her to move away from the basket and relying on their depth, athleticism, and ball movement to overcome the physical advantage. Clark's 11 assists, with no turnovers, marked a first in Women's World Cup history since 1994.",
  "summary": "Caitlin Clark had never encountered a player like 7-foot-3 China center Zhang Ziyu, and the Team USA star explained how the Americans handled the extraordinary challenge.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "WATCH: Caitlin Clark launches absurd logo 3 in Team USA’s World Cup opener",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/watch-caitlin-clark-launches-absurd-logo-3-in-team-usas-world-cup",
        "published": "2026-09-04T13:34:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Caitlin Clark helps US beat China and 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu 94-61 in women’s World Cup opener",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/caitlin-clark-helps-us-beat-china-and-7-foot-3-zhang-ziyu-94-61-in",
        "published": "2026-09-04T14:17:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "Team USA's Caitlin Clark Decision Sparks Backlash at FIBA World Cup",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/team-usas-caitlin-clark-decision-sparks-backlash-at-fiba-world-cup",
        "published": "2026-09-04T14:20:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Caitlin Clark helps US beat China and 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu 94-61 in women’s World Cup opener",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/caitlin-clark-helps-us-beat-china-and-7-foot-3-zhang-ziyu-94-61-in-5588273",
        "published": "2026-09-04T15:23:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "D’Tigress lose to South Korea in World Cup opener",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/dtigress-lose-to-south-korea-in-world-cup-opener",
        "published": "2026-09-04T16:04:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}