Team USA coach refuses to start Caitlin Clark: “Our starting group’s done a pretty good job… I like where we are right now”
Kara Lawson is standing by her veteran lineup despite Clark’s historic production
K ara Lawson had an opportunity to place Caitlin Clark at the center of Team USA’s World Cup title run. Instead, the coach delivered an answer that sounded like a door quietly closing.
Asked whether she would consider starting Clark, Angel Reese or Paige Bueckers when the knockout stage begins, Lawson defended the veteran group that started all three games and made it clear that she is not searching for a major change.
I think that our starting group’s done a pretty good job of getting us off to good starts, and rotationally from game to game we could change things, but I like where we are right now
Caitlin Clark remains on the bench despite making World Cup history
There is no evidence that Lawson has anything personal against Clark. She has previously praised the Indiana Fever guard as a great player who cares about winning. But from the outside, her refusal to promote Clark can feel increasingly difficult to understand.
Lawson has continued to start Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, leaning on experience and players who already understand the pressure of Olympic and World Cup elimination games.
Experience is a reasonable explanation. It is not, however, a complete basketball argument for keeping Clark on the bench.
Clark immediately transformed Team USA’s offense in its 94-61 opening victory over China. In her first World Cup game, she produced 14 points and 11 assists without committing a turnover. Her 11 assists were the most by an American in a World Cup game since Dawn Staley recorded 12 in 1998. She did all of it as a reserve.
Clark struggled badly in the next game, scoring one point and missing all six of her shots against Italy. But almost every American struggled that night. The United States shot only 29 percent, recorded more turnovers than assists and survived 55-52—the team’s lowest-scoring World Cup performance since 1971.
The veteran starters Lawson is protecting hardly proved untouchable. Gray, Young, Copper, Collier and Stewart helped close the game, but the four returning starters from the Paris Olympics combined to shoot just 5-of-23. Italy was still within one possession of forcing overtime in the final seconds.
Caitlin Clark responded against Czechia with nine points and seven assists in 21 minutes, helping Team USA recover with a 105-64 victory. Through three games, she is averaging 8.0 points and a team-leading 6.3 assists despite never entering at the opening tip.
Paige Bueckers has been the young player delivering the most consistent scoring. She opened with 14 points against China, contributed seven points, five rebounds, two steals and two blocks during the Italy scare, and added 10 points and five assists against Czechia. She has made 13 of 22 shots while committing only three turnovers.
Angel Reese has provided exactly what Lawson expected from her: rebounding, physicality and relentless energy. She grabbed nine rebounds against China, scored eight points with two blocks against Italy and then produced 13 points and six rebounds against Czechia.
Aliyah Boston has played a quieter role, averaging 5.3 points and 2.3 rebounds, but Lawson trusted her in the closing lineup against Italy. Her strength and defensive awareness could become more important against Team USA’s next opponent.
The Americans will face Hungary in Thursday’s quarterfinal at 5:30 a.m. ET. Hungary reached the last eight for the first time in 40 years by defeating Japan 84-63. Réka Lelik exploded for 23 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Minnesota Lynx forward Dorka Juhász enters the matchup averaging 15.3 points and 11 rebounds.
Away from the court, the differences between Team USA’s young stars have also become visible. Bueckers and Reese have embraced the cameras, dancing and joking in social-media clips alongside several teammates. Their energy has helped present a relaxed, united group enjoying Berlin.
Clark has been noticeably more reserved. She has not sought the same place in the viral dances, choosing instead to keep most of her personality inside the locker room and her influence on the court. That silence should not be confused with passivity. Clark may not demand the starting job publicly, but every pass she delivers is making the argument for her and every knockout game Lawson keeps her on the bench will make the decision harder to ignore.
