Kara Lawson was once again the focal point of the fans’ rage after she excluded Caitlin Clark from the starting lineup in Team USA’s game against Italy. After Team USA defeated China, showcasing their dominance behind Clark and the young stars, Lawson once again started Clark on the bench, opting for Chelsea Gray as a starter against Italy, leaving the fans enraged.

Team USA’s starting lineup featured Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Breanna Stewart, and Napheesa Collier. In their last game, except Young, the remaining four starters scored in single digits. Stewart, Gray, Copper and Collier shot just 7-of-21 combined shots. Clark and the other young stars who came off the bench proved to be the bigger headache for the Chinese team.

Clark excelled in her role as the scoring playmaker. Paige Bueckers tied for the most points on Team USA with Clark, and Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese led the team with the most rebounds. The bench became Team USA’s biggest weapon, and watching Lawson not deploy it early in the next game brought out frustration among fans,

“Another s—– starting lineup. These starters have no chemistry together, limited movement of the ball. Expect a slow start until CC, Paige, Angel and AB enter the game.”

The callout from the fan was obvious after how the veterans showed up in the first game. In the World Cup opener, Clark had entered the game with over six minutes remaining and Team USA leading by 10-4. By the end of the first quarter, the Americans were up by 27-14.

“Turned on the game when it started… saw CC wasn’t starting… turned it off. F— you guys start her.”

One of the reasons that so many fans have tuned in to watch the 2026 FIBA World Cup is because of Caitlin Clark. Even though the Indiana Fever star played more minutes than any player on the team, the demand since opening day has remained uncompromised. Fans want her to start the game.

Gray, although one of the greatest point guards in WNBA history, has largely not been favored by fans as the starter. Her first game didn’t help her case either, after the veteran point guard tallied only 5 points with 2 assists on 33.3% shooting against China. This led to a fan saying, “CC should be starting over Gray after the first game.”

“This starting 5 is SO trash if they play this starting 5 against France they will lose.”

In her third season, Clark has made her case as one of the best players in the WNBA. She leads the league in assists, and she is third in points behind A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Mitchell. At least on the stat sheet, that makes Clark the best offensive player in the league.

“CC is the only MVP candidate on the team. She was the MVP of the qualifiers. Player of the game in game 1…”

Clark was top three in the MVP race before the World Cup started. Usually, in a WNBA game, a coach starts her five best players from their respective positions. However, when it’s an event like the WC or Olympics, an overwhelming pool of talent means there’s no difference between starters and non-starters. It’s just a strategic choice by coaches.