Sports analyst Linda Cohn’s comments about Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson’s dynamic were widely discussed on social media. In the most recent episode of her show, Cohn clarified her controversial take.
On Thursday’s episode of “The Linda Cohn Show,” Cohn addressed Wilson’s withdrawal from Team USA in the 2026 FIBA World Cup. She suggested that the Las Vegas Aces star intentionally skipped the tournament so she doesn’t have to play with Clark.
“Is there any part of A’ja that didn’t want to spend the next couple of weeks watching the World Cup become the Caitlin Clark show?” Cohn said. “Because let’s face it, Caitlin walks into a building and the attention follows her. … Could A’ja simply not want to deal with that?
“Could there be some insecurity, dare I say? Could she be thinking, ‘I’m the four-time MVP, I’m the best player in the world, why does everything have to be about Caitlin Clark?'”
Many people, including fans of both Clark and Wilson, called out Cohn for her “speculative” comments. In Tuesday’s episode of her podcast, Cohn addressed the criticism she has been receiving.
“I was just asking questions, and I was surprised by so many of the people out there were making assumptions about me,” Cohn said (Timestamp: 6:41).
Cohn then praised Wilson’s MVP-caliber season so far and referenced her sudden decision to sit out the 2026 World Cup in Berlin, Germany:
“When I’m watching the best player in the world doing that, playing those minutes, putting up those numbers, collecting Player of the Week and Player of the Month honors, and then suddenly she decided without any public announcement that she’s not going to the World Cup just a couple of days before the team boards the plane, I’m going to ask questions.
“I went right to the source, USA Basketball. It cited health reasons, no details given. I was curious. … So why didn’t USA Basketball know about it? They detailed Kelsey Plum’s injury but not A’ja’s. I was just asking questions.”
Reports surfaced on Aug. 31, four days before Team USA’s World Cup opener, that Wilson and Kelsey Plum will miss the tournament. According to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, Wilson has not been fully healthy in the Aces’ recent games due to a back issue.
Philippou added that a source indicated that the World Cup’s tight schedule “could exacerbate the situation.”
Linda Cohn suggests inserting Caitlin Clark into Team USA’s starting lineup
In the same episode of her podcast on Tuesday, sports analyst Linda Cohn suggested a change to the Team USA’s starting lineup, particularly inserting Caitlin Clark in place of Chelsea Gray.
Team USA coach Kara Lawson had used the same starters in three group-phase games: Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. Cohn argued that inserting Clark into the veteran-laden starting lineup could benefit the Americans, as she changes the tempo of the game every time she is on the floor.
“She was right about, I say, four of them, not five,” Cohn said (Timestamp: 1:45). “Because I still don’t understand why Chelsea Gray is starting at point guard over Caitlin Clark. … Why don’t you want to change the tempo from the opening tip? … Help me to understand because that’s the Caitlin Clark effect.”
Team USA will face Hungary in the FIBA World Cup quarterfinals on Thursday. Should the Americans advance, the semifinals are scheduled for Saturday and the finals on Monday.
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Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos
