Sports loyalty is usually simple; you support your team. But when stars like Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers step onto the court, that loyalty can suddenly feel a little more complicated.

At the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifiers in San Juan, fans packed the arena to watch some of the biggest names in women’s basketball take the floor. Yet amid the noise and bright lights, one small sign in the stands managed to capture just as much attention as the game itself.

As Team USA faced Puerto Rico, a young fan sitting in the crowd held up a banner that read: “Coach Batista is my dad but… I’m here to see Paige & Caitlin.”

The message was a playful nod to Gerardo Batista, the head coach of the Puerto Rico women’s national team. But despite the family ties, his daughter made it clear which players she had come to watch.

The wholesome moment quickly became a talking point around the arena as fans appreciated the young girl’s honesty and the growing star power of the two American guards.

Paige Bueckers leads the way as Team USA beats Puerto Rico

While the moment in the stands delivered one of the most wholesome scenes of the night, Team USA’s stars showed on the court why even opposing fans can’t help but cheer for them.

Under the guidance of head coach Kara Lawson, Team USA entered the matchup with a victory over Senegal in their bag. But facing the host nation in front of a lively San Juan crowd carried a different kind of challenge. Yet the Americans once again showed why they remain one of the most formidable forces in international basketball.

From the opening minutes, they controlled the tempo of the game by leaning on a mix of veteran presence and young talent as Lawson experimented with different lineups throughout the night.

Paige Bueckers led the team with 16 points in another confident outing, while Kelsey Plum added 12. However, it was Angel Reese who made her presence felt on the glass as she went on to record her first Team USA double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Even though Puerto Rico fought hard in front of their home fans, the gap in depth and firepower between them and the Americans gradually showed as the game progressed.

So when the final buzzer went off, Team USA had secured a commanding 91–48 victory, marking their second straight win in the tournament.

With this win under their belt, Team USA continues to build momentum in the qualifiers while giving fans another glimpse of the chemistry forming between its young stars and veteran leaders.

What’s next for Team USA?

Sitting at 2-0 in the qualifiers, Team USA won’t have much time to slow down before their next game arrives.

The Americans are scheduled to return to the court soon for their next matchup against Italy as the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament continues in San Juan.

Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026, Time: 02:30 AM
Local Date: 3/14/2026, Local Time: 05:00 PM (GMT-4)

However, the important thing to note is that the United States already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. So, Coach Lawson is using this tournament as an opportunity to test different rotations while building chemistry between her players. And if the games so far are any indication, those combinations are already starting to click.