A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum dropping out of the Team USA roster has opened up a lot of questions on who head coach Kara Lawson will turn to for the starting line-up in Berlin for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Wilson would not only have started, but would also been the team’s number-one option had she suited up. Her absence, along with Plum’s, leaves space for Lawson to insert a wide cast of All-Star talent in their place.
Fans Disagree With CBS Sports Predicting Caitlin Clark Will Come Off the Bench for Team USA
Even with them sidelined, CBS Sports certainly believes talent like Caitlin Clark may have to come off the bench given how deep the roster is. This prediction has led to some unsavory reactions from fans.
CBS Sports believes that Breanna Stewart is a lock for the starting line-up due to her decorated career for Team USA (helped win the gold medal for the USA at every Olympics since 2014).
Napheesa Collier is also a lock for them due to her offensive and defensive versatility, becoming even more important now given Wilson’s absence.
Jackie Young is the final lock for CBS Sports as they have bestowed upon her the title of ‘best wing’ on the roster as it’s currently constructed.
CBS Sports is predicting Team USA’s starting 5 for their World Cup opener vs China 🔮
▪️Chelsea Gray (PG)
▪️Jackie Young (SG)
▪️Napheesa Collier (SF)
▪️Breanna Stewart (PF)
▪️Aliyah Boston (C)— E J 🏀 (@EJayArrow) September 1, 2026
After making arguments for the likes of Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and more, they rounded out the roster with Aliyah Boston and Chelsea Gray.
This triggered several women’s basketball fans online. “CC doesn’t start, the TVs get turned OFF,” said one fan who clearly does not agree with the disrespect being shown towards Clark.
Another X user believes Bueckers and CC are being ousted from the starting line-up prediction due to their relatively young age. They said,
“Both Caitlin and Paige are better than Chelsea. But Chelsea will start. I know everyone’s accepted it as normalcy, but something’s gotta change in WBB selection traditions. Talent not seniority.”
Both Caitlin and Paige are better than Chelsea. But Chelsea will start.
I know everyone’s accepted it as normalcy, but something’s gotta change in WBB selection traditions. Talent not seniority. https://t.co/duJIJd8jy1
— Michael Ramsford (@MasterRamsford) September 1, 2026
“I just know ima be mad either way but if anyone other than CC or Paige starts at the 1 they aren’t being serious fr,” said another fan.
One fan wants the team to take drastic measures if Clark doesn’t start, claiming, “I will not tune in for this. Chelsea Gray shouldn’t even be on the team. This is embarrassing. Fire Sue Bird.”
I will not tune in for this. Chelsea Gray shouldn’t even be on the team. This is embarrassing. Fire @S10Bird https://t.co/NcWcGVnNgC
— CDS Sports Podcast (@cdssportspod) September 1, 2026
“Imagine being so stuck in your ways that you have Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers and they’re on your bench. We all know who will be on the court when it matters though. Starters in team USA it’s just politics. Arike said it herself,” said another X user.
Imagine being so stuck in your ways that you have Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers and they’re on your bench. We all know who will be on the court when it matters though. Starters in team USA it’s just politics. Arike said it herself. https://t.co/hs19tLjLfn
— coop💥 (@zmol65465) September 1, 2026
Arike Ogunbowale, in 2024 on Nightcap, said there’s “politics in everything” when referring to Team USA roster selections.
“When it comes to [the Olympic trials], it really doesn’t have much to do with your game. It’s really about who they feel like fits with the team.”
Lawson is a defensively minded coach. Not having Clark or Bueckers in the starting line-up would more so be a decision that’s rooted in her wanting a perfect balance between offense and defense in the half-court.
The floor-spacing (Bueckers is shooting over 40% from three this season, while Clark sits in the mid-30s) and up-tempo style of offense that the aforementioned young guards would bring to USA’s offense would certainly be a welcome addition. It’s just something that Lawson might not want to try out initially due to prior biases toward defense.
MORE: ‘Pitted (Caitlin) Clark Against Her Own Teammates’ – Analyst Blasts Fever Star’s Fans Amid MVP Buzz
International teams, more so, tend to run slower, half-court offenses with a mix of set plays and free-flowing ball movement built on years of chemistry.
Inserting Clark and/or Bueckers into a starting line-up to take that on would stir up some chaos.
Currently, there’s no official word out on who will start. Given the sheer abundance of talent, there’s technically no wrong answer.
