USA coach says veterans will start as team enters World Cup knockout round

Team USA coach Kara Lawson told reporters that she is satisfied with the performance of the veteran starters in the first three games of the FIBA Women's World Cup and plans to keep them in the lineup for the upcoming quarterfinal against Hungary. > "I think that our starting group's done a pretty good job of getting us off to good starts, and rotationally from game to game we could change things, but I like where we are right now," Lawson said. She added that the same approach applies to young players Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, who have been used off the bench throughout the group stage. > "I like where we are right now," she repeated when asked about starting them.

Clark has come off the bench in all three group games, posting 14 points and 11 assists in the opening win over China, a low-scoring outing against Italy and nine points with seven assists in a victory over the Czech Republic. Reese and Bueckers have also contributed off the bench, with Reese recording rebounds and points in each match and Bueckers providing scoring and playmaking.

Lawson indicated that, with the tournament entering the knockout phase, the coaching staff will rely on the experienced core that has guided the United States through the early rounds.