Caitlin Clark Backs WNBA Game in Europe After World Cup Win
Caitlin Clark says she would sign up to play a WNBA game overseas after helping Team USA win its fifth straight World Cup title in Berlin, as the league's international footprint keeps growing.
Caitlin Clark is ready to take the WNBA overseas. The Indiana Fever star said she would welcome the chance to play a regular-season game in Europe after returning from the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin, where she helped the United States win its fifth consecutive championship.
«I think we're just scratching the surface of where we can go globally,» Clark told reporters after the Fever's 103-85 win over the Toronto Tempo on Friday. «I wouldn't be surprised if next year you see a game played overseas of some sort. I would sign up for that. I think it'd be really good to help expand the WNBA, and I'm looking forward to that.»
The WNBA has not announced plans to stage a game in Europe next season, so Clark's comments amount to a prediction rather than confirmation of a league initiative. Still, her remarks reflect a broader push by the league to grow its audience beyond the United States.
Clark made her first appearance in a major international tournament this month, helping Team USA defeat France 97-79 in Sunday's final in Berlin. The event gave her a first extended taste of playing in Europe, and she came away impressed by the atmosphere.
«That was the first time I've really played in Europe, and obviously basketball is really loved in Europe,» Clark said. «It was fun to get to play in front of those fans.»
She said the passion international players showed while representing their countries stood out most. «I think one of the biggest things I took away is how much pride those girls play with, especially the ones that are in the WNBA going to play for their home country,» Clark said. «It means so much to them. I think that's really cool, and they've done so much to help grow the game in their specific countries.»
The international presence in the WNBA has already reached record levels. According to the league, 51 foreign-born players appeared in at least one game during the opening week of the 2026 season, a single-season record. A total of 70 current and former WNBA players later appeared on World Cup rosters.
The league's geographic footprint has expanded as well. The Tempo began play this season as the WNBA's first Canadian franchise, joining the returning Portland Fire as the league grew to 15 teams. Franchises in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia are scheduled to begin play between 2028 and 2030, eventually bringing the league to 18 teams.
The WNBA played its first regular-season game outside the United States in Vancouver in 2025. A game in Europe would mark another step in that international strategy, and Clark said she saw signs of the league's reach throughout Team USA's run in Germany.
«The amount of young kids and young fans that were super excited to see us was cool,» she said.
Clark returned to WNBA action Friday and recorded 28 points and 14 assists in Indiana's win over Toronto. Kelsey Mitchell scored 33 points and broke the league's single-season scoring record in the victory. The Fever have three regular-season games remaining before the playoffs begin.
