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Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and Team USA are taking on France in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup final on Sunday. Throughout the tournament, one of the biggest stories coming out of the United States’ team has been that Clark has not been in the starting lineup.
Despite Clark being one of, if not the biggest names in women’s basketball in the country, she has struggled for Team USA this month. In five games, Clark has 35 points, 33 assists and 12 rebounds.
Ahead of Sunday’s gold medal game against France, USA head coach Kara Lawson had a decision to make on whether she would put Clark in the starting lineup or not.
Lawson and the Team USA coaching staff decided not to insert Clark into the starting lineup for the most important game of the tournament. Instead, Lawson went with the lineup of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
“Final First 5 vs France,” USA Basketball said on X.
Final First 5 vs France.
📺 TNT, truTV & HBO Max
🏆 #USABWNT x #FIBAWWCpic.twitter.com/aSLlsS36qO
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— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) September 13, 2026
This decision came after much scrutiny from people around the sports world, including WNBA and USA fans, along with analysts like Skip Bayless.
In the semifinal of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, Clark scored only one point on 0-of-3 shooting from the field, to go along with one rebound, one assist and one steal.
Sunday’s final between Team USA and Team France, with Clark coming off the bench, is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET in Berlin, Germany, and can be seen on TNT, truTV and HBO Max.
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 11:27 AM.