Indiana Fever v Atlanta Dream ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 20: Sophie Cunningham 8 of the Indiana Fever celebrates a three pointer during a game between Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena on June 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 9405
Indiana Fever v Atlanta Dream ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 20: Sophie Cunningham 8 of the Indiana Fever celebrates a three pointer during a game between Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena on June 20, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 9405
Sophie Cunningham didn't hold back when asked about Caitlin Clark's role with Team USA at the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup.
She made it clear she believed her teammate deserved to start, even while acknowledging the gold medal was ultimately what mattered.
"Yes, I'm biased probably because I love her and she's my teammate, but I definitely thought C should have been starting," Cunningham said in a recent No Hesitation podcast episode. "But then again, I'm not the coach. I don't know what they have going on. We got the dub. That's all that matters. We got the gold."
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 16: Caitlin Clark 22 of Indiana warms up prior to the start of the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream on August 16th, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire WNBA: AUG 16 Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260816069
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 16: Caitlin Clark 22 of Indiana warms up prior to the start of the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream on August 16th, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire WNBA: AUG 16 Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260816069
Clark came off the bench in all six of Team USA's games in Germany, but still made an impact in a reserve role, averaging 7.8 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.2 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game. She led the team in assists despite the limited role, helping the Americans capture gold.
Head coach Kara Lawson made the decision to keep Clark off the starting five, consistently opening games with a veteran lineup instead of the younger group.
Cunningham's comments on the No Hesitation podcast, as posted on X, reflect both her loyalty to her Fever teammate and a practical read on how things turned out. She was upfront that she thought Clark should have started, but she wasn't willing to let that opinion overshadow the larger result.
In her view, the gold medal validated the group's collective approach, even if the individual role assignments invited some second-guessing along the way.
Why Did Lawson Not Let Clark Start?
HC Kara Lawson consistently opened games with a veteran lineup of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart. Younger players like Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers were used primarily as impact pieces off the bench.
Lawson defended the approach throughout the tournament, pointing to how well the starters were performing.
"I think that our starting group has done a really good job of getting us off to good starts," she said as published by Marca. “And rotationally, from game to game, we could change things, but I like where we are right now
Lawson's stance reflected a clear coaching mindset: prioritize proven chemistry over star power or outside pressure. The starters consistently set the tone early, allowing reserves like Clark to provide bursts of scoring and playmaking later. Even with Clark leading the team in assists, Lawson chose to protect the hierarchy that had already been working.
Do you think Clark's bench role helped or hurt her development heading into the WNBA playoffs?
Written by
Zaid Quraishi