The United States sends an early message at the Women’s World Cup

The Women’s World Cup opened with a day of high-scoring games, record shooting and a packed Berlin Arena. Japan, Spain and Korea all made strong starts, while Caitlin Clark set a U.S. assist record in her tournament debut.

Japan survived a major challenge from Mali to win 102-97. Mali led for nearly 30 minutes and opened leads of 10 points three times, appearing capable of producing an early upset. Japan led for only about seven minutes, but it turned the game around in the closing stages.

Japan produced an 8-0 run in 42 seconds during the third quarter to turn a 52-45 deficit into a 52-52 tie. Mali answered with a 15-0 run and restored a 10-point advantage, moving from 61-56 to 71-61. Hayashi then took control. Her three-pointer with 4:28 remaining put Japan ahead 87-85, and she helped fuel an 18-9 closing stretch with four three-pointers.

Hayashi finished with 27 points, shooting 9 of 15 from three-point range without a turnover. Her nine three-pointers set a World Cup record, surpassing the previous mark of eight shared by South Korea’s Byeon Yeon-ha and Cuba’s Grisel Herrera Mendes. Japan made 20 threes, breaking its own tournament record of 18, set against Kenya in 1998. Kokoro Tanaka added 18 points and seven assists, while Mali’s Aminata Sangare scored 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds.

Spain defeated Germany 83-53 before 12,550 spectators in Berlin, where the sold-out crowd applauded Germany at the end despite the loss. Korea moved closer to the next round with a 99-81 victory over Nigeria and 32 team assists. Meesseman scored a World Cup personal-best 27 points against Turkey. Clark supplied 11 assists in her first World Cup appearance, more than any U.S. player had recorded in a World Cup game.