For a team that has been a heavy favorite in each game it has played, it hasn’t felt like an easy road for team USA during this FIBA World Cup. Yesterday, the team faced off against Spain, which features Hawkeye legend Megan DiLeo (formerly Gustafson) and struggled more than expected. Spain deserves credit for being a scrappy squad, but team USA has a distinct talent advantage and until the 4th quarter the game was a bit too close for comfort.
Anyone who has followed the FIBA proceedings has probably
noticed that the team plays a lot better with Caitlin Clark and some of the other younger players on the court. The statistics and advanced metrics also bear that out. And yet yesterday when the team was pushed significantly by Spain, the coaching staff decided to play the younger players less than they have played in any of the prior FIBA games and instead leaned on veteran leadership to carry team USA to victory.
The lineup decisions have been the subject of much debate, and to be fair it might be reasonable to lean on players who have done it before. That said, it seems like each stretch where team USA has struggled has featured veteran lineups while the youngsters have been in during team USA’s most dominant runs. Excepting veteran Breanna Stewart who has probably been the MVP so far, the best players for this team have been Rhyne Howard (age 26) and Clark, Paige Bueckers, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, and Clark’s teammate, Aliyah Boston, all of whom are just 24 years old.
Team France brings a legitimate challenge and I have some serious concerns about this team’s ability to win given the lineup choices thus far. If the veterans struggle again today, will the coaching staff ride the youth to victory, or will they let an attachment to veteran leadership put the world cup title in jeopardy?
