USA Coach Kara Lawson Critiques 'Unacceptable' Caitlin Clark Mistakes in Fever Loss

Indiana Fever star guard Caitlin Clark made two critical mistakes during the crunch time of her team's loss against the New York Liberty on Saturday, both of which were mentioned on the game's broadcast by Kara Lawson, who is Team USA's women's basketball coach.

One arrived after Clark didn't box out Leonie Fiebich when Fiebich was taking a free throw with the Liberty up three points with about a minute left of regulation. Fiebich missed the free throw, but because Clark didn't box her out, she was able to get the rebound and give her team another possession.

"Wow, then [the Fever] just give up a possession right there by not boxing out the shooter. Unacceptable," Lawson said after the Liberty got the ball back.

Clark missed a layup during the Fever's next possession and clearly thought she was fouled. She then fouled Liberty guard Pauline Astier on the other end of the court, seemingly out of frustration.

"That's a poor decision by Indiana right there," Lawson said after Clark committed the foul.

"Because even though this is the missed shot there by Clark, and she's frustrated because she feels like should get a call there, that's okay to be frustrated," she continued when the replay of Clark's missed layup attempt was shown.

"What you can't do is foul this here. It's still a one-possession game, right? So play the game out, get the stop, and see if you can keep it at one possession," Lawson added after another angle of Clark's foul was shown.

Yikes Caitlin! That’s your Team USA Coach Kara Lawson calling you out twice girl 😳

Not boxing out the shooter

And fouling out of frustration 😳 pic.twitter.com/6qwHLGzyMP
— HoopHer (@HoopHerSpeaks) August 23, 2026

Kara Lawson Was Right to Highlight Caitlin Clark's Mistakes

This was a series of poor decision from Clark that cost her team down the stretch. There's no way of knowing whether Clark boxing out and not committing the foul would have altered the game's outcome, but they were ill-advised regardless.

And Lawson was right to call them out. For one, it's her job to do so when she's working as a color analyst. Plus, Clark can't make these same mistakes when Lawson is her head coach for Team USA, including during the FIBA World Cup next month.

Team USA's star-studded roster can only work when each member of playing unselfishly. Lawson needs to have a keen eye for when one of her players isn't meeting that standard. And while there's nothing to suggest that these mistakes would carry into the future for Clark, Lawson was right to hold her accountable when they did occur.

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