INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 14: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 in the second half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Dallas Wings and the against the Indiana Fever on August 14, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: AUG 14 Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon081426036
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 14: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 in the second half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Dallas Wings and the against the Indiana Fever on August 14, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: AUG 14 Dallas Wings at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon081426036
Caitlin Clark not starting an Indiana Fever game might shock anyone. But WNBA analyst Rachel A. DeMita won't be surprised if Team USA handles her differently in the FIBA 2026 final in Berlin.
“I'm not sure if Caitlin Clark is going to start,” she stated in a recent episode of her Courtside Club podcast. “Because even if we look back at the qualifying rounds, she didn't start … She was the last person to enter the starting lineup.”
Back in March’s qualifiers, Team USA HC Kara Lawson changed the starting lineup in every game to figure out players’ compatibility, chemistry and the best lineup. Out of 5 qualifying games, Clark started in the final game against New Zealand on March 15.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 drives past New York Liberty guard Marine Fauthoux 4 in the first 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 Icon071826071
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 drives past New York Liberty guard Marine Fauthoux 4 in the first 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 Icon071826071
Although she had 14 points and 6 assists in that game, Lawson prioritized veterans like Kahleah Copper and Chelsea Gray as core rotational players. DeMita hinted that something like that might happen again.
“I just don't know how they're going to play it,” she added to the same podcast segment posted on X. “If they're going to let seniority start … who have kind of been here before. Even if they're not technically better players than the ones that are on the bench.”
Especially since this is quite the norm in international basketball.
Rachel DeMita elaborated on how rotation in international basketball works
Clark capped off her senior international debut in Puerto Rico with 58 points (11.6 PPG) and tournament-high 32 assists (6.4), an MVP award, all the while coming off the bench. DeMita clarified that’s just how the international system works, with MVP-caliber players often coming off the bench.
“I will also say international play is a little different in terms of how they think about starters,” she added to the same podcast. “They don't necessarily think that the starting five is the best five players on the team. A lot of times, you'll have an MVP player coming off the bench.”
But when it's Rome, do as the Romans do. Since it's Team USA, DeMita agreed that Lawson should play her players how American teams do, by stating the best five.
That’ll be the way of showcasing arguably the most popular WNBA player to the world.
Do you agree? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy