Sportscaster Linda Cohn has reignited the debate surrounding Team USA coach Kara Lawson’s roster management, specifically focusing on the role of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. During Friday’s episode of “The Linda Cohn Show,” Cohn acknowledged she would stop advocating for Clark to join the starting lineup, but she raised concerns about whether the guard will receive significant minutes during high-stakes, crunch-time moments in upcoming games.
Cohn noted that Team USA’s path to the gold medal is set to become more difficult, predicting that the semifinal matchup against Spain will present a much tougher challenge than the team’s previous opponents. Despite her bench role, Clark has been a statistical standout, leading the Americans with 7.0 assists and 21.5 minutes per game across four World Cup appearances. Previously, Cohn had suggested that inserting Clark into the starting unit—potentially replacing Gray—would improve the team’s overall tempo and offensive efficiency.
Throughout the tournament, including the three group-phase games and the quarterfinal victory over Hungary, Lawson has maintained a consistent starting five: Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Jackie Young, and Gray. This stability has helped the squad remain undefeated as they head into the final rounds of the competition.
While Cohn remains critical of the rotation, other media figures have publicly supported Lawson’s approach. On Friday’s edition of his “Don’t @ Me” podcast, Dan Dakich defended the coaching staff, arguing that the focus should remain on the team’s dominant performances rather than social media narratives, which he dismissed as “complete nonsense.” Similarly, Craig Carton emphasized on his show that team success is the ultimate priority, urging observers to appreciate the squad’s collective achievements.
The Americans are scheduled to face Spain in the semifinals this Saturday. A victory would advance them to the World Cup final on Sunday against the winner of the France versus Germany semifinal, while the defeated teams will compete for third place. The ongoing discourse surrounding Clark’s usage has also coincided with broader fan reactions to her exclusion from various league-wide lists, such as the recent WNBA Top 25 Facilitators ranking, which some supporters have labeled as “rage bait” or attempts to minimize her impact. The report also notes that cohn then argued that Clark has been productive despite coming off the bench.
