Team USA has won all three group games at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, but questions remain about its starting lineup. France looks like a strong gold-medal contender, which may force the US to make changes. 

Team USA starts experienced players, while Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers come off the bench. The close Italy game exposed offensive problems. Sports Illustrated’s Robin Lundberg discussed the issue on his YouTube channel. Lundberg first pointed to France as the team against which Team USA must be very careful with its lineup. 

“That’s the team [France] where the US is going to have to play the right lineups,” Lundberg said. “I still am not a fan of the starters. Jackie Young has played well, but I don’t like Jackie Young’s fit with the other group,” Lundberg said.

His concern is not about Young’s individual performance. In the same video on his YouTube channel, he questioned whether Young fits well with the other starters and gives Team USA its best possible lineup.

Lundberg also questioned the starting roles of two other experienced players. 

“Chelsea Grey and Kahleah Copper are problematic in the starting lineup," Lundberg said. “To me, I don’t need to see that every single game anymore. But we’ll see.”

Lundberg’s comments show that Team USA could make better use of its depth by changing its starting lineup before facing stronger teams.

The lineup issue is even more important because France has already shown that Team USA cannot afford another slow start or poor offensive performance.

France threatens to expose Team USA’s lineup issues 

A separate Sports Illustrated report by Robin Lundberg showed how dangerous France could be if Team USA does not fix its lineup issues. France reached the knockout stage after winning all three group games. 

It also recorded a big 111-56 win over Nigeria. France has several WNBA players, including Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaun, Carla Leite, Marine Johannes, Pauline Astier, Dominique Malonga, Leila Lacan and Valériane Ayayi.

Their shooting, speed, size, and athleticism could cause problems for Team USA. The US already got a warning against Italy, scoring its fewest World Cup points since 1971 while shooting 29% and making one three-pointer. 

Lundberg also said that Team USA must start games well if it faces France in the gold-medal game. 

“Who closes games is going to matter more, but the US is going to have to get off to good starts against France if they do see them in the gold medal game,” Lundberg said. 

This makes the starting lineup more than just a tactical choice. Team USA may have a deeper roster, but its starting five could play a big role in deciding whether the team can win another gold medal against France.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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