INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 reaches out to her team mates in the second half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826035
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 reaches out to her team mates in the second half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826035
While Team USA secured their first FIBA 2026 WC victory with a 94-61 win over China, WNBA analyst Robin Lundberg didn’t like the USA broadcast’s treatment of Caitlin Clark.
“Caitlin just had the most assists without a turnover in World Cup game in USA history,” he said in his recent YouTube video, posted on September 4, 2026. “Yet the broadcast, and I noticed this in real time, leads off by crediting the old heads.”
Although Team USA HC Kara Lawson didn’t start Clark, her team-high 14 points, 11 assists, 0 turnovers, and 22 efficiency were recognized with a Player of the Game nod. She came off the bench, yet led the team in minutes (25.19).
Deutschland: Basketball, FIBA Womens World Cup, USA vs. China am 04.09.2026 in Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle: Caitlin Clark USA, 12 und Angel Reese USA, 15 Paige Bueckers USA, 4 *** German Basketball, FIBA Womens World Cup, USA vs. China on September 4, 2026, in Berlin at the Max Schmeling Halle: Caitlin Clark USA, 12 Angel Reese USA, 15 Paige Bueckers USA, 4 Copyright: xSvenxHeidmannx
Deutschland: Basketball, FIBA Womens World Cup, USA vs. China am 04.09.2026 in Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle: Caitlin Clark USA, 12 und Angel Reese USA, 15 Paige Bueckers USA, 4 *** German Basketball, FIBA Womens World Cup, USA vs. China on September 4, 2026, in Berlin at the Max Schmeling Halle: Caitlin Clark USA, 12 Angel Reese USA, 15 Paige Bueckers USA, 4 Copyright: xSvenxHeidmannx
However, the TNT Sports broadcasting team of Lauren Jbara, former WNBA stars Tina Charles and Renee Montgomery (analysts) only credited the starting veterans like Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Breanna Stewart, and Kahleah Copper for “setting the tone.”
Needless to say, Lundberg opposed.
“I just disagree with the premise that it was the old heads who set the tone for Team USA,” he said in the same YouTube video. “When Caitlin came into the game ... it was obvious to anybody watching and seeing that she picked up the pace of the game.”
Moreover, Lundberg advocated for the whole young and turnt group whose credits were due.
Robin Lundberg made a case for Team USA’s Young crew
The starting veterans Napheesa Collier, Stewart, Copper and Gray collectively posted 21 points. Whereas Paige Bueckers and Rhyne Howard tied Clark with 14 points each. Bueckers led the team in steals (2), and Angel Reese in rebounds (9).
Aliyah Boston had the heaviest duty of guarding the 7’3 Chinese center Zhang Ziyu, limiting her to 13 points. In fact, the young crew of Clark, Bueckers, Reese, and Howard led in every stat line but received the same treatment as Clark. Lundberg spoke up against it, too.
“Young and turnt set the tone more than the old heads did. And Caitlin Clark was the player of the game,” he said in the same post. “So, it was a little head-scratching in the postgame to see it spun in a different way.”
Hopefully, the stat lines would convince Lawson to consider starting this young group against Italy on September 7, with CC as the anchor.
What’s your take on this? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy