Just when Team USA announced its starters, social media went bonkers after failing to find Caitlin Clark’s name on the list. News flash! The Indiana Fever star played the most minutes on the team, significantly more than any player on the roster. After the 94-61 win on Friday, Clark dominated the box score. She led the team in minutes, assists, plus/minus and points. However, to former Indiana Fever insider Scott Angness, it was the last part that seemed to miss the cinematic score.

“Clark finished with 14 points, which matched the output of Howard and Bueckers. But for Clark, it felt like she only had six points because, much like [Tyrese] Hallebertton, we saw, she came in and made a decisive decision…to get everybody involved,” Angness said on his Fieldhouse Files podcast on Friday. “Get the ball moving, get the ball flowing, get out in transition, play fast, and all the shots that she had really came to her.”

Clark finished with 14 points and 11 assists in 25 minutes. As great a facilitator as Clark is, she is also one of the best scorers in the WNBA. 14 points wouldn’t have the same thrilling score when almost everyone on the roster is scoring at will. This team didn’t necessarily need her to score. Her shots were scattered across the game. Clark shot 4-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. All of Clark’s three 3-pointers came from catch-and-shoot on the left.

“I thought the team was at its best with the second unit when Caitlin Clark was guiding the offense and getting everybody going,” Angness added.

Despite bringing her off the bench, head coach Kara Lawson was comfortable with Clark handling Team USA’s offense because the Indiana Fever star played an almost perfect game. While she leads the WNBA in turnovers this season, on Friday, Clark didn’t commit a single one. The Americans were +30 with her on the floor. She was also the most efficient player on the roster.

Clark was highly strategic as a playmaker. She used her double-threat reputation and constantly caused China’s defensive collapse. She drove to the basket and kicked out passes to some of the best scorers in the league. Her confidence in sticking to her playmaking paid off.

“Anybody I pass the ball to, it feels like they’re never going to miss a shot,” Clark told reporters after the game. “So that’s one of my goals when I come into the game: facilitate, play fast, set up my teammates, get into the paint, get some penetration. Especially with their zone, that was one of my focus points.”

Clark, Paige Bueckers and Rhyne Howard were all tied for a game-high 14 points. As a team, the USA shot 44.7% from the field, including 37.5% from the 3-point line. They dominated their last World Cup gold medal game opponents on a night when they didn’t even play their best game. Lawson put veteran stars like Breanna Stewart and Jackie Young on the floor for less than 17 minutes.

Napheesa Collier and Kahleah Copper struggled on the scoring end, combining for 3-of-12 from the floor. They are too great to have consecutive bad games or remain cold throughout the tournament. Team USA recorded a 33-point win in a game where they didn’t look their absolute best and on a night where the league’s third-best scorer looked like scoring was just an option for her.

It was a statement win for the Americans. They still have the biggest claim on the gold medal. Even without A’ja Wilson.