Kara Lawson gets 100% real after Caitlin Clark struggles: “You see where your weaknesses are”
The superstar had a career-low performance, but veterans Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray stepped up to deliver a dramatic win over Italy and keep the gold medal chase alive.
It was far from a walk in the park for Team USA during its second appearance at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup . In fact, several of the team’s star players, including Caitlin Clark , disappeared from the spotlight, allowing veteran players to step up and rescue an important victory over Italy.
With that scenario in mind, and considering her comments could be interpreted as a message to her players, Team USA head coach Kara Lawson spoke after the 55-52 victory.
What Kara Lawson said after the win over Italy
“In the fourth quarter, when it was winning time, my veterans came through big. Jackie Young was terrific, and Chelsea (Gray) made a huge shot late. Sometimes it’s good to be tested like this. You see where your weaknesses are, and we know exactly what we need to improve,” Lawson said during her interview with TNT Sports.
This is exactly the moment to make adjustments, especially when discussing areas of concern. Caitlin Clark was one of those weaknesses on Sunday. The Indiana Fever star finished 0-for-6 from the field with just one point, a stat line she had never recorded before in either the WNBA or an NCAA game.
With the victory, Team USA improved to 2-0 in the FIBA Women’s World Cup and officially secured a direct spot in the quarterfinals of the knockout stage. Their opponent remains to be determined.
The win also guaranteed that the Americans will be placed on the opposite side of the bracket from France , setting up the possibility of a championship showdown between the two tournament favorites in the final on September 13 .
