Even with her star power, the celebrated freshman is still being asked to earn every minute.
As the American women continue to overpower the field at the FIBA World Cup, Caitlin Clark’s place in the rotation has become a talking point, with some fans questioning why one of basketball’s biggest names is still coming off the bench for an undefeated Team USA squad.
Clark again made her impact as a reserve Thursday, logging 19 minutes and 31 seconds while finishing with 10 points and nine assists in the United States’ commanding 108-56 quarterfinal victory over Hungary.
Team USA coach Kara Lawson indicated the current lineup has earned its spot, even as she left open the possibility of adjustments. “Our starting group’s done a pretty good job of getting us off to good starts,” Lawson said Wednesday when asked about Clark potentially moving into the starting five. “Rotationally from game to game we could change things, but I like where we are right now.”
The discussion around Clark’s role reflects the larger balancing act facing Team USA: weighing her immense popularity and rising profile in the sport against the chemistry, hierarchy and roster structure required to chase a world championship.
Lawson has opted for veterans for her starting backcourt, with 28-year-old Jackie Young, 32-year-old Kahleah Copper and 33-year-old Chelsea Gray all starting.
That has left Clark, 24, and other young stars like Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese in reserve roles.
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A coach deferring to her veteran players isn’t a novel idea in sports and we’ve seen how some of the world’s best players — think Jayson Tatum for Team USA in 2024 — can get lost in the shuffle.
There are vocal Clark supporters, though, who question why she isn’t one of the starting five.
However, even in a reserve role, Clark is getting significant run and is leading the team with her 21.5 minutes per game average and has paced the team in three of the four games.
She played a team-high 25:19 in the 94-61 win over China on Sept. 4, logged 18:30 in Team USA’s 55-52 triumph over Italy on Sept. 6 in its tightest game to date, tallied a team-best 21:54 in the 105-64 throttling of Czechia on Sept. 7 and her 20-plus minutes Thursday in the one-sided affair again led the team.
In the Italy win, in which Clark logged her fewest minutes, she went 0-for-6 in a one-point effort.
Clark hasn’t indicated that the lack of a starting role bothers her, and she’s averaging 8.5 points, 7.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds per contest.
“This is such a privilege and honor to be here,” Clark said after scoring 14 points and tallying 11 assists in her first game with the national team in the win over China. “I don’t worry about all that [pressure]. I’m just excited to go play basketball. I remain confident in what I can do.”
Clark and Team USA will face the winner of Thursday’s Australia-Spain clash in the semifinals Saturday, and with a win would battle France, Belgium or Germany in Sunday’s final.