Lawson sticks with veterans for quarterfinal
Team USA coach Kara Lawson told OutKick she is satisfied with how her starting lineup has performed in the first three games, suggesting Caitlin Clark will again come off the bench when the Americans face Hungary in the FIBA Women's World Cup quarterfinal. Lawson noted the starting group has done well in getting the team off to good starts, and while rotations could change from game to game, she likes where the team currently stands.[S1]
Lawson also indicated that fellow young stars Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers will remain reserves for now. Social media has been full of calls for the trio to replace some veterans in the starting five since the tournament began, but the coach appears committed to her current approach as the knockout stage arrives with no room for error.[S1]
Young stars shine off the bench
Clark has come off the bench in all three group games. She opened with a record-setting 14 points and 11 assists against China, then struggled to one point on no field goals in a career-low outing against Italy, when the U.S. nearly suffered a major upset. She bounced back with nine points and seven assists in a blowout win over Czechia to close group play.[S1]
Bueckers has been more consistent, matching Clark's 14 points in the opener and adding four assists and two steals. Against Italy, she posted seven points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks in 19 minutes, including the team's first 3-pointer after ten straight misses. She followed with 10 points and five assists versus Czechia, shooting 13-of-22 overall with only three turnovers.[S1]
Reese grabbed nine rebounds in 17 minutes against China, five on the offensive glass, valuable against a tall Chinese frontcourt. She scored eight points in 15 minutes against Italy, making all four free throws and blocking two shots, then added 13 points and six rebounds versus Czechia. Through three games, she has 26 points and 18 rebounds in under 20 minutes per appearance.[S1]
Knockout stakes and history
The U.S. has never lost a quarterfinal in FIBA Women's World Cup history, a reputation now on the line. Despite the veterans' surprisingly shaky performance against Italy, Lawson appears set to rely on them in the knockout stage, leaving the team's hot young stars to make their impact off the bench as the Americans defend that perfect record.[S1]
