USA coach wastes no time punishing Caitlin Clark for woeful World Cup display vs Italy
USA coach wastes no time punishing Caitlin Clark for woeful World Cup display vs Italy
David Schneidman Mon, September 7, 2026 at 12:24 AM UTC
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Caitlin Clark scored just one point in Team USA's 55-52 victory over Italy -Credit:Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR / BELGA MAG / Belga / AFP via Getty Images
Caitlin Clark put up a forgettable performance in Team USA’s nail-biting victory over Italy in the FIBA World Cup.
Clark recorded just one point in 19 minutes during Team USA’s 55-52 win against Italy in Group D play at the 2026 FIBA World Cup.
The Indiana Fever star played just one minute in the fourth quarter, with American head coach Kara Lawson opting for a more veteran lineup down the stretch in Berlin, Germany.
In the end, Team USA got over the line, but only barely. After entering the night as massive favorites to beat Italy, the Americans trailed by two points with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter before locking down on defense and taking the lead through clutch buckets from Breanna Stewart and Jackie Young. It comes after Clark gave the perfect response to being snubbed as a Team USA starter.
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All the while, Clark watched from the bench. After she scored the joint-most points (14) and led the team in assists (11) in Team USA’s opening 33-point win over China on Friday, Clark assumed a totally different role in what was a much closer game.
With the American team expected to be tested in the latter stages of the tournament, Lawson’s decision to leave Clark on the bench Sunday could serve as an indicator of what is to come if Team USA finds itself in another tight contest.
It is also possible that Clark’s woeful night was the sole reason she hardly played down the stretch.
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Overall, she shot 0-for-6 from the field and committed two turnovers. Her only point of the game came from the free throw line.
Clark's only point against Italy came from the free throw line -Credit:Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Across almost seven seasons of college and WNBA play, Clark had never finished a game with zero made shots, according to ESPN Insights.
It was part of a wider struggle felt by the entire US team, who shot a dismal 16-for-56 (29 percent) and 1-for-12 from three-point range (eight percent). Only Young, a star guard for the Las Vegas Aces, finished with double-digit points (10).
Paige Bueckers (7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists) and Angel Reese (8 points, 2 blocks) were able to make a positive impact, but, like Clark, both were left on the bench down the stretch in favor of a more experienced unit.
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In the end, it was Stewart, Young, Chelsea Gray, Kahleah Copper, and a combination of Aliyah Boston and Napheesa Collier who saw the most game time in the final minutes.
Team USA will now be forced to rest and recuperate in time for its next Group D game on Monday, Sept. 7, against the Czech Republic.
It remains to be seen whether Lawson will give players like Clark, who played limited minutes on Sunday, more game time, or if she will stick with the same veteran core who pulled out the narrow win against Italy.
It comes after Reese issued the perfect response to a Team USA question about A'ja Wilson.
Source: “AOL Sports”
