It was more of the same from the USA and that was barely enough. Kara Lawson once more went with her underperforming vets over the impressive trio of Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. It nearly cost her team a place in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup final. Emmet Ryan says that, if Lawson sticks with this strategy, it will cost them the title.
It’s not working. It hasn’t worked. There’s no reason to believe it will work. Yet, still, despite all the evidence to the contrary, the USA is wasting a star-laden line-up at the FIBA Women’s World Cup. It almost cost them against Italy, it should have cost them tonight against Spain. There’s every reason to think that it will cost them Sunday against France.
There are solutions and there are stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who can implement them if given the freedom to do so. Nothing we’ve seen in Berlin gives us cause to think they’ll get that.
We’ve seen this movie before
Kara Lawson’s insistence on sticking with her veteran line-up to start is visibly having a negative impact on her side. The eyeball test, the stats, and the scoreboard, all agree on that front.
Spain had far more energy than the USA to start this game. Their movement on both ends was faster and, frankly, more sensible. It’s not so much that the US had poor structure as much as it was hard to work out what structure they even wanted.
Breanna Stewart was needlessly isolated on the outside Awa Fam in the offensive half court. Fam was obviously doing a fine job but even the most rudimentary of switches would have enabled Stewie to be far more productive.
Proper fearless stuff
Spain showed absolutely no respect for the status of their illustrious opponents. They went right at them from the off with Iyana Martin, Awa Fam, and Megan Gustafson all straight-up bringing it.
When Lawson finally started to rotate in her younger players, the USA was able to bring a bit of order to its game. The presence of Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and Angel Reese on the court added a necessary dash of adrenaline to the Americans.
It was still shy of the half court rhythm the US desperately needs in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, but the young guns meant the American fast break was actually relevant. Bueckers in particular stood out for making her aggressive play matter on the scoreboard.
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The difference is visible
The USA didn’t do anything overly creative to work its way back into this game. When the young guns came in, the game became more focused on driving at the interior and challenging Spain’s physicality.
That’s what has made this American side so frustrating to watch at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. When Jackie Young is the true vet on the floor with Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, this is a team with the adequate intensity and movement at both ends to beat anyone.
Naturally, Breanna Stewart is the ideal other player to put with that quartet but her usage is critical to that. When the game is run through Stewie, everything opens up on the floor for the USA. Yet the US coaching staff has insisted on leaning into treating all of its talents as equals rather than having designated roles.
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Iyana Martin played without fear and was trusted to carry responsibility for Spain regardless of her age or the reputations around her. (PIC: FIBA)
Iyana Martin is her
There had already been plenty to like about Iyana Martin in this game but her double shake and back for a score to bring it back to a single possession difference in the second quarter drew audible gasps.
Spain has players with far more accomplishments than Martin as well as playing at a higher level. Yet there is simply no doubt that she’s the one they expect to deliver the most. Miguel Mendez isn’t standing on ceremony or expecting her to defer to veterans. He’s just doing what makes his team play their best basketball.
I fully expect Martin to be a revelation when she finally goes to Portland next season. It must have been particularly frustrating for USA fans to see Martin, a player younger than anyone on their roster being trusted to this degree. Yet neither Caitlin Clark nor Paige Bueckers has been truly unshackled throughout the tournament in Berlin.
Wash, rinse, repeat
You’ll never believe what the USA did to start the second half. Ok, you definitely will. They went back to their veteran starting 5, who were a combined -35 on +/- before Kara Lawson finally brought Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston back in the game.
Every possession the US vet line up spent on the floor was one that Spain could use to ensure they stayed right in this game. Clark, Boston, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers were doing all the work to swing the game in favour of the US on the scoreboard.
A complete refusal by Lawson to deviate from her pre-tournament plan has made life needlessly difficult for the Americans. This USA team is so much better when it leans into its strengths. The only person in Berlin that doesn’t realise this truism is the head coach of the US national team.
Breanna Stewart remained USA’s obvious focal point, but too often the offence failed to put her in positions where she could dominate. (PIC: FIBA)
A direct route to failure
Spain are a hell of a good basketball team but the USA should have never been in this much trouble. The issue has been clear going back to the Italy game and, structurally, there has been no clear attempt by the USA to change it.
The USA is sticking to a plan that isn’t working. They may be in a FIBA Women’s World Cup final but that’s not enough for this side. Anything less than gold is a failure, that’s what comes with wearing those three letters on your chest in international basketball.
Performance for performance, France have been light years better than the USA in this tournament. There is absolutely no rational reason to believe they won’t win Sunday’s final. France, who had never won a medal in the FIBA Women’s World Cup before this week, look ready to take the trophy comfortably.
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