‘You come off’ – Linda Cohn begs Kara Lawson to put Caitlin Clark in Team USA starting lineup over 4x WNBA champ

Kara Lawson has been urged to make a major change to the Team USA roster ahead of the FIBA World Cup knockout stage.

Team USA finished the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup group stage with a flawless 3-0 record in Group D.

They have drawn Hungary in the quarterfinals of the tournament, but before that, sports analyst Linda Cohn wants head coach Kara Lawson to make a massive change to the roster.

Team USA fans are divided over the veterans and young stars of the team during the FIBA World Cup. Some believe that the vets getting starting minutes is the correct decision, while others want them to be moved to the bench.

Cohn belongs to the latter group as she urged the Team USA coach to drop 4x WNBA champion Chelsea Gray in favor of Caitlin Clark.

“Maybe Kara Lawson loves having that off the bench. But, maybe. Just maybe, she looks at Caitlin almost like a sixth-woman weapon.

“Let the veterans start the game, then let me bring in Caitlin and ease her in and then completely change the pace,” Cohn said.

She added, “… I get where she’s coming from, but I just wouldn’t do it that way. I would start Caitlin. Chelsea Gray, please, you come through big times, you can still play. You come off the bench.”

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Being a three-time gold medalist, Gray is undoubtedly one of the most important locker room leaders of Team USA, especially in the absence of A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum.

However, Cohn and a plethora of other fans believe she should be saved for crucial moments during games and allow Clark to run the offense for the starting lineup.

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