Caitlin Clark’s sideline moments reaching viral numbers seem like a love affair at this point, and this time social media caught fire with her brief exchange with Italy women’s basketball head coach Andrea Capobianco during Team USA’s second group game in the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
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With 2:03 left in the first quarter, Team USA led Italy 13-8. However, the game came to a pause when two referees were having a discussion regarding a foul. Clark, who is usually around the scene of the crime when it comes to having a word with a referee, joined in on the action. Seeing Caitlin Clark, Capobianco gave Clark one of his most animated reactions to date, which is doing the rounds on social media.
While Capobianco seemingly disagreed with Clark on this particular situation, the Italian head coach knows better than to sideline the Indiana Fever star’s talent altogether. This is because Capobianco had spared some pleasant words for Caitlin Clark before the start of the tournament.
“From a technical standpoint, I think Caitlin is incredible. From an image standpoint, she makes this sport even more enjoyable. Because, besides her ability to score, she makes everything she does look beautiful,” Capobianco said in translated Italian, per an X post from Euro Women’s Hoops.
While the Italian head coach fully respects Caitlin Clark’s talents, it will be interesting to see how he continues to handle the Fever star, whose performance has not kicked off as much as she would have wanted in the first half.
For the second game in a row, Team USA head coach Kara Lawson made Clark come off the bench. While she broke several playmaking records for the USA in the previous game with her 11-assist showcase, Caitlin Clark is currently sitting with a single point off a free throw, with a shooting efficiency of 0-6 from the field and 0-3 from outside the arc.
Regardless, Team USA outscored Italy 30-24 in the first half, as they continue to show their level against Capobianco’s side, which they also dominated 93-59 during qualifying in Puerto Rico.
However, Italy is emerging as one of the better European sides in recent years, earning a third-place finish in EuroBasket last year. Capobianco also won the Best Coach honor in that tournament. The Italian roster largely consists of players who ply their trade in Europe’s top leagues, except for the Golden State Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini, who has emerged as a star role player and is currently having a stellar game with 14 points under her belt.
Still, Team USA has enough firepower to steer clear of the Italians, who are not giving Caitlin Clark and company a breather as the teams are neck and neck approaching the fourth quarter.