For the second straight FIBA World Cup game, Team USA head coach Kara Lawson brought superstars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese off the bench.
Lawson kept the starting lineup the exact same as the one she rolled out in the USA’s 94-61 win over China: Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart.
She’s continuing to put her trust on the USA’s veterans, but it’s the nation’s younger talent that seems to be outperforming the old guard.
WNBA Fans Praise Caitlin Clark and USA’s Younger Talent for Playing Up to the Veterans’ Level
While Team USA did struggle against Italy, looking sluggish in offense while faltering on defense, young players like Reese, Clark, and Bueckers stepped up to the plate when called upon.
Stewart, Gray, Collier, and Copper combined for a paltry 5-23 shooting from the field, while Reese carried the offensive load. By the end of the third quarter, she established herself as the USA’s leading scorer with eight points, before Jackie Young scored crucial points in the fourth to get to 10 points.
Aliyah Boston was a team-high +18 in her plus/minus. While Clark was not able to make a field goal, she consistently had a positive plus/minus alongside Bueckers, who dropped seven points.
WNBA fans took notice of Team USA’s youth outperforming the veterans.
One x user wrote, “For the most part the younger players are just better than the old guard. They gotta stop prioritizing seniority over talent. Makes the US WBB look like a joke. In the NFL when a vet QB can’t cut it and the young buck shows him up, old guy sits. Time to lose the egos, W.”
For the most part the younger players are just better than the old guard. They gotta stop prioritizing seniority over talent. Makes the US WBB look like a joke. In the NFL when a vet QB can’t cut it and the young buck shows him up, old guy sits. Time to lose the egos, W. #FIBAWWC
— Leigh Lewallen (@leighlew3) September 6, 2026
Lawson has historically preferred lineups that feature defense, and a backcourt that features Clark and Bueckers would on paper not be as strong of a backcourt.
So, while seniority and the politics behind that rationale might come into play, Lawson’s confidence in a more defensively stable lineup could also be the reason why Bueckers and Clark are coming off the bench.
Another basketball journalist said, “Immediate vibe shift on this game when Young and Turnt hit the court.”
Immediate vibe shift on this game when Young and Turnt hit the court
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) September 6, 2026
Young had a solid 12-point outing against China in the USA’s previous game and struggled through the opening three quarters against Italy before finding her scoring touch in the fourth.
Indiana Fever writer Robin Lundberg, very bluntly stated, “Team USA’s bench is so much better than the starters.”
Team USA’s bench is so much better than the starters.
— Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) September 6, 2026
“Young and Turnt crew really the needle movers. What a time to be alive,” said another WNBA journalist.
Young and Turnt crew really the needle movers. What a time to be alive
— christan (no i), ß (@ChristanWNBA) September 6, 2026
It’s only the second game the USA has played, so the sample size for ‘experience vs youthful exuberance’ is fairly small.
Another influencer called for the Team USA management to pick the best lineup for the next game, instead of keeping faith in the veterans. “At some stage Sue Bird & Kara have to make the decision to actually play their best lineups,” they wrote.
“These veteran lineups have been flat out terrible for Team USA,” added a WNBA analyst.
Bueckers and Clark, along with Rhyne Howard, led Team USA in scoring with 14 points each during their game against China while coming off the bench. Clark also racked up a team-high 11 assists.
The Italy game appeared to be a rough one all around for Team USA as they eked out a 55-52 win. Though if there’s one takeaway from this clash, it’s that Lawson has reason to trust her younger stars and could switch her lineups up if the need arises.
