Team USA had plenty to think about after surviving against Italy in one of their worst performances in their history at the FIBA World Cup. But judging by the scene inside the locker room after the game, Caitlin Clark and her teammates didn’t let one bad night ruin the mood.
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A locker room video from the broadcast of the game showed a humorous scene. The footage showed Clark sitting on a chair and seemingly attempting to hide her feet underneath it, and Jackie Young immediately noticed her unusual positioning. She pointed it out, laughing, causing Clark, Angel Reese, and Aliyah Boston to burst into laughter. The moment was posted to X by @TheHoopCentral.
The timing of the moment made their reaction particularly interesting. Just a few minutes earlier, Team USA had struggled against Italy, barely making it past them in a 55-52 game that saw the Americans shooting just 28.6% from the field and making just one of their 12 three-point attempts. They also recorded 11 assists on 14 turnovers as a team.
Clark in particular struggled, finishing the game with one point and no made field goals, a first for her career – college and WNBA combined. On top of that, she only logged one assist and four rebounds, throwing two turnovers. Young led the team in scoring with 10 points, being the only Team USA player to score in double digits and make more than two field goals.
Team USA also barely escaped the night with a win. The team trailed by two with 4:29 left in the fourth quarter, and it was only a 7-0 run led by heroics from Young, Chelsea Gray, and Breanna Stewart that eventually sealed the win. Even then, Italy had a chance to tie the game, but Cecilia Zandalasini missed her three-pointer at the buzzer.
However, any lingering frustration within the locker room definitely wasn’t visible in the locker room. That didn’t stop fans from showing their feelings on the Italian scare.
Fans Split Over Caitlin Clark, Team USA’s Locker Room Vibes
Fans quickly rushed to the comments section of the post on X, making their feelings on the matter clear. Some saw it as a good way to take the tension down after a stressful outing, whereas others saw it as unbecoming for them to be laughing after barely escaping Italy, a team that has qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1994.
Many singled out Clark’s odd actions and positioning, speculating on why the star guard would put her feet under the chair. One such fan proposed a theory, writing, “Caitlin was trying to cover her feet so the camera wouldn’t record it…”
Another user appreciated the players’ ability to move on from the game despite a tough finish, with their comment reading, “The vibes are immaculate after that win 🤣.”
However, not everyone was ready to laugh, with a fan calling out every aspect of Team USA’s effort against Italy, including head coach Kara Lawson. Their post read, “Nothing to laugh about. That game was awful. Including the coaching.”
One fan singled out Clark, taking aim at her poor shooting night. They wrote, “Caitlin Clark laughing after shooting 0/6 😂.”
This was a big shift for Clark, who had become the first American to log a double-digit assist total since Dawn Staley in 1998 during her previous game against China on September 4.
Finally, one fan had a humorous reaction stemming from the disconnect between the players’ mood and the game itself. Their comment read, “They laughing and Sue somewhere with murder on her mind😭😭😭😭😭.”
Of course, this refers to Team USA’s managing director, Sue Bird, who likely was not pleased to see their effort and the ensuing narrow escape against Italy.
Regardless of the reaction online, the moment shows just how close-knit the team has become during their time in Berlin. Now, with a matchup against the Czech Republic on September 8, only time will tell how they bounce back.