Kara Lawson led Team USA to a perfect 3-0 record in the group stage of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, taking down China, Italy and most recently Czechia in Group D. Now, Team USA will look to keep their World Cup run alive, facing Hungary in the quarterfinals early Thursday morning.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, in her first World Cup, has proven she belongs on Team USA during her time in Berlin. The former Iowa star averaged 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and a team-leading 6.3 assists per game during the group stage.
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, on the other hand, has also been solid playing in her first World Cup as well. The ex-LSU national champion is tallying 8.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, which ranks third on Team USA behind New York Liberty forward Breana Stewart (8.3) and Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen (7.0).
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However, while Clark and Reese have both been successful during their World Cup debuts, Coach Lawson decided to bring both WNBA stars off the bench during the group stage. Instead, Lawson went with a more experienced starting lineup of Stewart, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, Las Vegas Aces guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, and Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper.
And on Wednesday, ahead of Team USA’s quarterfinal match against Hungary, coach Lawson was asked if she is considering putting Clark into the starting lineup, revealing that while the lineup could change, she likes where the team is at right now.
“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.
Then, Lawson was asked about potentially adding Reese and Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers into the starting lineup, ultimately giving the same answer: “I like where we are right now.”
Lawson and Team USA will face Hungary for a spot in the FIBA World Cup semifinals on Thursday at 5:30 a.m. ET.
