Caitlin Clark and Team USA are heading into the knockout stage of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, with Hungary standing between the Americans and a place in the semifinals.
The quarterfinal matchup is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, in Berlin, Germany. For viewers in the United States, the game comes very early in the morning, making the TV and streaming details especially important for fans who do not want to miss Clark and the U.S. women’s national team.
Team USA enters the quarterfinals after going undefeated in Group D. The Americans defeated China, Italy and Czechia to finish 3-0 and earn a direct place in the quarterfinals.
Here is everything fans need to know about Caitlin Clark and Team USA, including the game time, TV channel, streaming options, roster, tournament path and Clark’s numbers entering the knockout round.
Quick Game Guide – Caitlin Clark and Team USA
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Game | USA vs. Hungary |
| Round | FIBA Women’s World Cup Quarterfinal |
| Date | Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 |
| U.S. Start Time | 5:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 a.m. CT |
| Berlin Time | 11:30 a.m. local |
| Location | Berlin, Germany |
| TV | TNT |
| Streaming | HBO Max |
| U.S. Record | 3-0 in group play |
| Next Round | Semifinals, if USA wins |
FIBA lists USA vs. Hungary for 11:30 a.m. local time in Berlin, which corresponds to 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States.
Table of Contents
How to Watch Caitlin Clark and Team USA
For American viewers, the Team USA quarterfinal can be watched on TNT.
The game is also available to stream through HBO Max, while FIBA’s U.S. streaming coverage includes Courtside 1891 through its distribution arrangements. Current listings also show TNT and truTV among the U.S. broadcasters for the knockout stage.
USA vs. Hungary TV and Streaming Information
Date: Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026
Time: 5:30 a.m. ET
Central Time: 4:30 a.m.
Mountain Time: 3:30 a.m.
Pacific Time: 2:30 a.m.
Berlin: 11:30 a.m.
TV: TNT
Streaming: HBO Max
Because of the early start, fans on the West Coast will need to tune in particularly early. The unusual viewing time is a result of the tournament being played in Berlin.
Why This Quarterfinal Matters with Caitlin Clark and Team USA
The quarterfinal is the first elimination game of the tournament for Team USA.
During group play, the United States went 3-0 and secured the top position in Group D. The Americans opened the tournament with a 94-61 victory over China, survived a much closer 55-52 game against Italy and then finished group play with a 105-64 win over Czechia.
The victory over Czechia was particularly emphatic, with Team USA winning by 41 points.
That result also extended the Americans’ remarkable World Cup winning streak. FIBA noted that the U.S. had not lost a Women’s World Cup game since the 2006 semifinals.
But the quarterfinals bring a different level of pressure.
One bad shooting night or a difficult matchup can end a team’s tournament immediately. Hungary also enters the quarterfinals after making its way through the qualification round, setting up one of the most important games of the tournament for both teams.
Caitlin Clark’s Role for Team USA
Clark has been an important part of the U.S. rotation during the World Cup.
Through group play, she was averaging 8.0 points, 6.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game, according to the pre-quarterfinal reporting supplied for this story.
Her biggest contribution has been her ability to create opportunities for teammates.
Clark led Team USA in assists through group play, averaging 6.3 per game. Her passing ability gives the American offense another way to attack defenses, particularly when opponents concentrate on the team’s bigger scorers.
Her World Cup debut against China was also notable. FIBA recorded Clark with 14 points and 11 assists in the United States’ 94-61 victory.
That performance showed why her playmaking remains one of the biggest storylines surrounding Team USA.
Team USA’s Leading Scorers
While Clark is one of the team’s most recognizable players, the Americans have several major offensive options.
Jackie Young entered the quarterfinals as Team USA’s leading scorer during group play, averaging 11.3 points per game.
Paige Bueckers and Breanna Stewart were next at approximately 10.3 points per game according to the figures in the original report.
Clark’s 8.0 points per game were accompanied by her team-best 6.3 assists.
That balance is important because Team USA does not need to rely on one player to carry the offense.
Team USA leaders entering the quarterfinal – Caitlin Clark and Team USA
| Player | Key Group-Stage Average |
|---|---|
| Jackie Young | 11.3 points |
| Paige Bueckers | 10.3 points |
| Breanna Stewart | 10.3 points |
| Caitlin Clark | 8.0 points |
| Caitlin Clark | 6.3 assists |
| Caitlin Clark | 2.7 rebounds |
The Americans’ depth is one of their biggest advantages entering the knockout round.
Who Is on the 2026 Team USA Roster? – Caitlin Clark and Team USA
The 12-player roster includes a mixture of established WNBA stars and younger players.
Team USA roster
- Caitlin Clark — Indiana Fever
- Angel Reese — Atlanta Dream
- Paige Bueckers — Dallas Wings
- Rhyne Howard — Atlanta Dream
- Sonia Citron — Washington Mystics
- Kahleah Copper — Phoenix Mercury
- Jackie Young — Las Vegas Aces
- Breanna Stewart — New York Liberty
- Kiki Iriafen — Washington Mystics
- Napheesa Collier — Minnesota Lynx
- Aliyah Boston — Indiana Fever
- Chelsea Gray — Las Vegas Aces
The team is coached by Kara Lawson, head coach of Duke women’s basketball.
Her coaching staff includes WNBA coaches Stephanie White, Natalie Nakase and Nate Tibbetts, along with Dallas Wings head coach Jose Fernandez and Duke assistant Tia Jackson serving in scouting roles.
A Team USA Roster Missing Two Major Stars – Caitlin Clark and Team USA
The American roster entered the tournament without two of the biggest names originally expected to be part of the team.
Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum were ruled out before the World Cup because of what Team USA described as health reasons.
Their absences make the depth and versatility of the remaining roster even more important.
Players such as Stewart, Collier, Boston, Reese, Bueckers, Young and Clark have therefore taken on significant roles in a team attempting to maintain its position at the top of international women’s basketball.
What Happened in Team USA’s Group Stage? – Caitlin Clark and Team USA
The United States opened the tournament against China and immediately established itself as a championship favorite.
USA 94, China 61
The Americans won their opener by 33 points.
Clark produced an impressive debut, recording 14 points and 11 assists, while the U.S. offense generated plenty of scoring opportunities through ball movement.
USA 55, Italy 52
The second game was much more difficult.
Italy pushed the Americans throughout the contest, but Team USA managed to escape with a three-point victory.
That game served as a reminder that the knockout stage would not necessarily be easy, even for a team with such a long international winning streak.
USA 105, Czechia 64
Team USA responded emphatically in its final group game.
The Americans defeated Czechia by 41 points, finishing Group D with a perfect 3-0 record and a direct quarterfinal berth.
Who Is Hungary?
Hungary reached the quarterfinals after defeating Japan 84-63 in the qualification round.
The result marked an important moment for Hungarian women’s basketball, with FIBA noting that Hungary had secured its best-ever finish at the Women’s World Cup by reaching the quarterfinals.
Hungary’s frontcourt presents an interesting challenge for the Americans.
FIBA identified Dorka Juhasz and Virag Takacs-Kiss as important players for Hungary because of their size and inside presence.
That could make Team USA’s interior defense and rebounding particularly important.
The Matchup to Watch
One of the biggest questions entering the game is how Hungary handles Team USA’s depth.
The Americans have multiple players capable of creating offense, while Clark provides another option with her passing and perimeter shooting.
For Hungary, the challenge will be maintaining defensive discipline while dealing with a deep U.S. rotation.
The American team also has plenty of experience handling pressure, something that becomes especially valuable once the tournament reaches the elimination rounds.
What Happens If Team USA Wins?
A victory over Hungary would send the United States into the semifinals on Saturday, Sept. 12.
FIBA’s tournament bracket has the winner of USA-Hungary advancing to face the winner of the Australia-Spain quarterfinal.
That means the Americans’ path to the championship could become even more challenging as the tournament progresses.
The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, with the third-place game and championship final scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13.
The World Cup final is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, according to the tournament schedule.
Caitlin Clark’s 2026 WNBA Numbers
Clark also entered the international tournament after another productive WNBA season with the Indiana Fever.
Her reported 2026 regular-season numbers before the FIBA break were:
| Season | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3PT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 36 | 22.5 | 3.9 | 8.4 | 45.6% | 37.3% |
| 2025 | 13 | 16.5 | 5.0 | 8.8 | 36.7% | 27.9% |
| 2024 | 40 | 19.2 | 5.7 | 8.4 | 41.7% | 34.4% |
Clark and the Fever are scheduled to return from the FIBA break on Sept. 18 against the Toronto Tempo.
Team USA’s Road to the FIBA World Cup Title
The United States is chasing another World Cup championship and enters the knockout stage with one of the strongest records in the tournament.
But the quarterfinal against Hungary is a different type of challenge from group play.
There is no room for a bad night.
The Americans must win to continue their title pursuit.
For Clark, the game provides another opportunity to compete on one of international basketball’s biggest stages. Her ability to create shots for teammates could become especially valuable if Hungary attempts to slow the game down or concentrate defensive attention on the American stars.
For Team USA, however, the goal is simple: advance.
What Time Is Caitlin Clark’s Team USA Game?
Team USA plays Hungary on Thursday, Sept. 10.
The game is scheduled for 5:30 a.m. ET, 4:30 a.m. CT, 3:30 a.m. MT and 2:30 a.m. PT.
The game begins at 11:30 a.m. in Berlin. FIBA confirms the Berlin start time.
What Channel Is Team USA vs. Hungary On?
The quarterfinal is scheduled to air on TNT in the United States.
Fans can also stream the game through HBO Max. Current U.S. listings also include truTV for the knockout-stage coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When does Caitlin Clark play Hungary?
Caitlin Clark and Team USA are scheduled to face Hungary on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup quarterfinals.
2. What time is USA vs. Hungary?
The game is scheduled for 5:30 a.m. ET, which is 4:30 a.m. CT. In Berlin, the game begins at 11:30 a.m.
3. What channel is Team USA vs. Hungary on?
The game is scheduled to air on TNT in the United States.
4. Can I stream Caitlin Clark’s Team USA game?
Yes. The game is available through HBO Max, with FIBA’s U.S. tournament coverage also available through Courtside 1891.
5. What happens if Team USA beats Hungary?
If the United States wins, it advances to the semifinals on Saturday, Sept. 12. The winner will face the winner of the Australia-Spain quarterfinal.
Final Takeaway
The Caitlin Clark Team USA storyline continues into the most important stage of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The Americans went undefeated through group play, but the quarterfinal against Hungary begins the win-or-go-home portion of the tournament.
Clark has already made an impact as a playmaker, leading Team USA in assists through the group stage. Around her, the U.S. has an impressive collection of scoring, size and experience.
For basketball fans, the main challenge may simply be getting up early enough to watch.
The USA-Hungary quarterfinal is scheduled for 5:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 10, with coverage on TNT and streaming available through HBO Max.
If Team USA wins, the road to another World Cup championship continues into the semifinals.
For More details : Live Updated News for the Match
Read More: The Morning News Informer
