Caitlin Clark recorded 14 points and 11 assists to help the United States defeat China 94-61 in its Women's Basketball World Cup opener Friday. The win extended the Americans' World Cup winning streak to 31 consecutive games, dating back to a semifinal loss at the 2006 tournament.

Rhyne Howard also scored 14 points, while Jackie Young added 12 for the U.S. The team is navigating a period of transition with a young roster featuring Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese. None of the three started, but all shared the court to close the opening quarter as the Americans built a 27-14 lead.

China, led by 7-foot-3 center Zhang Ziyu, rallied to start the second quarter. The 19-year-old, playing in her first World Cup, created difficulties for the U.S. inside on both ends, drawing frequent double-teams when she caught the ball offensively.

Zhang's first basket pulled China within 33-25 with 6:21 remaining in the half, but the U.S. responded with a 16-4 run to take a 49-29 lead into the break. Young converted a three-point play during the stretch, and Breanna Stewart scored the run's final four points.

China paired Zhang with 6-foot-10 Han Xu in the third quarter to bolster its interior defense, cutting the deficit to 53-37 before the U.S. answered with a 17-5 run to close the period, sparked by the trio of Clark, Bueckers and Reese.

Zhang finished with 13 points on 9 of 10 free throw shooting, while Han added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The U.S. team, which typically faces hostile crowds in international competition, received notable fan support Friday. Clark signed a basketball and posed for a photo with a young fan wearing a Fever jersey bearing her name, continuing a habit she regularly practices before WNBA games.

The Americans will face Italy in pool play Saturday, while China takes on the Czech Republic the same day.