Team USA coach reveals if Caitlin Clark will start in the World Cup final stage after bench role in group play

Caitlin Clark appears set to stay on the bench in the FIBA Women’s World Cup as her team enters the knockout stage.

Team USA coach Kara Lawson told OutKick that she likes what her starting lineup of veterans has done in the first three games, when asked if she would start Clark in the quarterfinal against Hungary.

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“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,” Lawson said.

Lawson also suggested that Clark’s young rivals and fellow young Team USA stars Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers will also come off the bench until further notice.

“I like where we are right now,” Lawson repeated when asked about Reese and Bueckers starting.

Fans on social media have been clamoring for Clark, Reese and Bueckers to replace some of the veteran players in the starting five since the tournament began.

Clark has come off the bench in all three group stage games for the U.S. She went from a record-setting 14-point, 11-assist debut against China to scoring just one point and missing every field goal in a career-low game against Italy, as the U.S. nearly suffered a devastating upset.

Clark rebounded with nine points and seven assists in a blowout win against Czechia to close the group stage.

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Paige Bueckers of the United States shoots over Italy’s Matilde Villa during the Women’s Basketball World Cup match between the United States and Italy in Berlin on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

So far in the World Cup, Bueckers has been a more consistent scorer than Clark. She matched Clark with 14 points in the opener against China and added four assists and two steals.

She then produced one of the strongest all-around performances for the U.S. during its scare against Italy. Bueckers finished with seven points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 19 minutes. She also made the Americans’ first 3-pointer after the team missed its first 10 attempts.

Bueckers followed that performance with 10 points and five assists against Czechia. She has made 13 of her 22 field-goal attempts through three games while committing only three turnovers.

Meanwhile, Reese collected nine rebounds in 17 minutes against China, including five on the offensive glass. That effort became especially valuable against a Chinese roster built around one of the tallest frontcourts in the tournament.

She then produced one of the strongest all-around performances for the U.S. during its scare against Italy. Bueckers finished with seven points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 19 minutes. She also made the Americans’ first 3-pointer after the team missed its first 10 attempts.

Reese then made her biggest impact when the rest of the American offense struggled against Italy. She scored eight points in 15 minutes, made all four of her free throws and recorded two blocks.

Reese added 13 points and six rebounds in the victory over Czechia. Through three games, she has produced 26 points and 18 rebounds despite playing fewer than 20 minutes in each appearance.

Angel Reese of the United States sits on the court during the Women’s Basketball World Cup match between the United States and Czechia in Berlin on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Now, with no room for error in the knockout stage, Lawson appears set to rely on her veteran lineup, despite their surprising lesser performance against Italy in the group stage.

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The U.S. has never lost a quarterfinal game in FIBA Women’s World Cup history. That reputation will be on the line, while America’s hot young stars appear to not be able to make the biggest impact to defend it.