As Team USA prepares for their FIBA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal matchup against Hungary, head coach Kara Lawson has confirmed that she will not alter her starting lineup. This decision means that WNBA star Caitlin Clark will continue to serve in a reserve capacity, a choice that has drawn sharp criticism from fans on social media.
Lawson’s decision follows a period of inconsistent shooting for the Indiana Fever guard. While Clark maintained a 37.3% success rate from three-point range during the 2026 WNBA season, she has struggled to find her rhythm in international play. Across three games, she has hit only 4-of-16 attempts from deep, marking a 25% efficiency rate.
Her performance has fluctuated throughout the group stage
- Debut against China: A strong showing with 14 points and 11 assists.
- Matchup against Italy: A difficult outing where she went scoreless, missing all six field goal attempts and recording only one point from a free throw.
- Matchup against Czechia: Scored nine points but struggled from behind the arc, missing five of her six three-point attempts.
Despite these shooting challenges, statistical data highlights Clark’s continued impact on the court. She currently ranks third in the tournament with 6.3 assists per game, trailing only Turkey’s Sevgi Uzun at 8.3 and Belgium’s Julie Allemand at 8.0. She remains the only member of the Team USA roster to place in the top five of any major statistical category following group play.
Lawson has previously noted that the transition from the WNBA schedule to the international game requires patience and specific adjustments. However, the ongoing cold streak has not been enough to convince the coaching staff to promote the three-time WNBA All-Star to the starting rotation.
While it remains to be seen if Clark can regain her form during the quarterfinal, some observers suggest that if the team advances to the semifinals, the pressure to integrate her into the starting lineup may intensify. In the meantime, fan frustration continues to mount, with many taking to platforms like X to voice their disapproval of the current coaching strategy. The report also notes that missing all six of her shot attempts and finishing with just a single point off a free throw in Team USA’s narrow 55–52 victory, she went scoreless from the field. The report also notes that caitlin Clark’s production stands out even with shooting slump. The report also notes that amid her noticeable drop in shooting, FIBA’s official statistical leaderboard strongly validates the fans’ arguments.
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Important Details
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