Team USA coach discusses Caitlin Clark's fit with team

Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark will take a break from the WNBA season to suit up for Team USA.

This will be the first time Clark plays a senior tournament for Team USA after representing the country at the youth level. She made her debut earlier this year.

The Iowa product reaches the tournament in the midst of an MVP-caliber season for Stephanie White's team, but playing for the national team always requires some adjustments.

Considering that, Team USA coach Kara Lawson talked about her fit with the team and the potential challenges that her presence will pose for the opposition.

Team USA coach doesn't know how other teams will guard Caitlin Clark

“She’s somebody that can change games with her ability to create pace, her ability to score, playmake, and so that’s something that is gonna be a great fit for the personnel that we have on this team,” Lawson said (h/t USA Today).

Lawson also wondered how would opposing teams try to deal with her unlimited range and playmaking and whether defenses will be as physical with her as they're in the WNBA.

“Her ability to get going and get hot, and to stretch the floor, the spacing that she provides, the attention that she generally draws in the WNBA ― we’ll see if that’s the same,” Lawson added. “We’ll have to see, since (it’s) her first time here, is how people defend her. Is it similar to what we see in the (United) States, or is it a little bit different?”

FIBA referees often allow more contact and don't reward flailing or flopping.

WNBA players are often pretty brutal and physical with Clark, even prompting conspiracy theories about how they feel about her.

That should be something to keep an eye on and a major concern for Fever coach Stephanie White.

Clark still has to return to Indiana for the most crucial stretch of the regular season and the playoffs, and after starting the season banged up with a back injury, Lawson will also have to go the extra mile to protect the superstar point guard.