Lawson Faces Tough Choices on USA Roster With Wilson and Plum Out

Kara Lawson's Team USA roster will look different than expected at the FIBA World Cup, which tips off this week in Berlin. The absence of two established stars—A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum—due to health concerns means the coach has flexibility but also questions to answer about how to deploy her remaining talent, particularly how much playing time to give to young guards Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.

The roster shuffle. With Wilson and Plum unavailable, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have claimed their roster spots. That opens the door for different lineup configurations and minutes distributions across the team. Lawson must now decide whether to build the offense around her established veterans or give significant playing time to Clark and Bueckers, who bring scoring punch but are still developing their international games.

The young guard question. Both Clark and Bueckers are capable of starting for most international squads, but Lawson's decision will likely depend on team composition and matchups. Starting them would showcase American depth and prepare them for future competitions. Benching them allows Lawson to rely on proven international performers, though it limits their tournament experience at a high level.

What's at stake. Team USA remains favored to win the World Cup regardless of lineup construction, but the roster adjustments add uncertainty to how smoothly the team will execute. The tournament serves as a measuring stick for team chemistry heading into Olympic qualifying and future competitions. How Lawson balances youth and experience will set a tone for American basketball's next generation.

Looking ahead. The WNBA resumes on September 17 after the international break ends, giving players like Clark and Bueckers only a week back at the professional level before the season concludes. Their World Cup minutes and performance could carry momentum into the final stretch of the regular season.

Source: original report ↗