Team USA coach Kara Lawson explained how Caitlin Clark's shooting, pace and playmaking could create difficult matchups at the FIBA Women's World Cup.
The USA Women's Senior National Team is set to open FIBA Women's World Cup play in Berlin on Sept. 4, with head coach Kara Lawson wondering how other teams will defend guard Caitlin Clark.
Lawson, who is beginning her first Olympic cycle as head coach, spoke to the media about the team's ability, her expectations, and how Clark can help create mismatches.
"She's somebody that can change games with her ability to create pace, her ability to score, playmake, and so that's something that is gonna be a great fit for the personnel that we have on this team," Lawson said via USA Today.
Lawson spoke about the Indiana Fever guard's ability to get hot, stretch the floor, and create spacing for others.
USA Basketball Opens World Cup Run in Berlin
Clark will make her FIBA Women's World Cup debut in Berlin on Sept. 4. Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Clark will also make their first appearances for Team USA at a major international competition.
The roster features familiar faces in forwards Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, along with guards Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Rhyne Howard, and Jackie Young.
Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were added to the roster after A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum withdrew.
Lawson will begin her first World Cup as Team USA's head coach. Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts, and Stephanie White will serve as assistant coaches, while Jose Fernandez and Tia Jackson are scout coaches.
Team USA opens against China on Sept. 4 before facing Italy on Sept. 6 and Czechia on Sept. 7.
Caitlin Clark Enters World Cup During Career Season
This season, Clark is averaging a career-high 22.5 points per game while shooting 37.3% from 3. She has played in 36 of the Fever's 40 games and has remained largely healthy after dealing with injuries last season.
Along with the 6-foot guard's career season, she has been launching her signature sneaker to the world. Recently, she gave fans a sneak peek at an Iowa Hawkeyes-inspired colorway of her Nike Caitlin 1 signature shoe on social media.
Clark's "Racer Blue" Caitlin 1 is scheduled to launch Oct. 1 for $140. She has already teased numerous colorways while playing this season.
On the court, Clark is averaging 22.5 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 45.6% from the field. Indiana has also clinched its second consecutive playoff berth.
The Fever are 26-14 on the season and sit fifth in the standings. If the postseason started today, Indiana would face the Atlanta Dream.
WNBA play will resume on Sept. 17, and the Fever have four games remaining. While the team has clinched a playoff berth, it could still move up or down depending on how the remaining games play out.
Three of Indiana's final four games are against playoff teams. The Fever have played through adversity this season while putting themselves in position to compete for home-court advantage in the opening round.
Indiana's next game will be Sept. 18 against the Toronto Tempo before facing Washington and Minnesota twice to close the regular season.
