Megan DiLeo: Rotation Change Won't Help Spain Against Caitlin Clark

BERLIN, Megan DiLeo is gearing up to lead Team Spain past the U.S. in this weekend's FIBA Women's World Cup semifinal clash. That means she will face Caitlin Clark, her old friend. But there is a twist before they meet on the court. USA coach Kara Lawson has decided to start veteran Chelsea Gray ahead of Clark for the first four games, even though Clark put up better numbers and logged more minutes recently.

DiLeo does not think this rotation change helps Spain much. When asked if Clark sitting on the bench gives Spain an edge, she said, "No, I don't think so." She called her old teammate a great player who makes an impact no matter when she enters the game. We just have to be ready for her and everyone else on that roster. They are talented and deep. It kind of does not really matter who comes in off the bench.

Saturday will be a big reunion. Both women were Iowa Hawkeyes. DiLeo played there from 2015-19 before Clark arrived one year later. DiLeo admitted she helped recruit Clark to the program back then. "I was actually part of the recruiting process that she was kind of going through, figuring out where she wanted to go," DiLeo said. "And she chose Iowa." They would interact whenever they visited campus and check in on each other now. Just super happy we get to represent Iowa.

DiLeo noted she has not spoken to Clark since arriving in Germany due to scheduling issues, yet she is excited to see her on Saturday. DiLeo won consensus National Player of the Year honors in 2019. She finished her college career with 2,804 points and a school-record 1,460 rebounds. Iowa retired her No. 10 jersey. Clark became a two-time consensus National Player of the Year. Her career total of 3,951 points is the most in NCAA Division I basketball history. She led Iowa to consecutive national championship games before the school retired her No. 22 jersey.

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Saturday will not be their first international meeting against each other. The U.S. beat Spain 84-70 during the World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico in March. DiLeo scored 15 points for Spain while Clark finished with seven points and seven assists. Clark was later named the tournament's most valuable player after leading the Americans to a 5-0 record.

DiLeo became a naturalized Spanish citizen in 2023 and made her debut for Spain at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She averaged 18 points and 9.3 rebounds during that tournament and has remained one of the country's most important interior players. She helped Spain reach Saturday's semifinal with 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting during an 89-66 quarterfinal victory over Australia. Spain shot 50% from the field and made 13 3-pointers while eliminating the Opals.

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The Americans delivered an even more dominant quarterfinal performance. They defeated Hungary 108-56 while setting World Cup quarterfinal records for points and assists. Clark scored 10 points and recorded a game-high nine assists in 20 minutes. She is now third among all players in assists per game at the tournament. Her best performance came in the opening game against China, when she recorded 14 points and 11 assists without committing a turnover. She struggled during the Americans' 55-52 escape against Italy but responded with nine points and seven assists against Czechia before nearly recording another double-double against Hungary. Lawson has continued to use Clark with a younger group of reserves that includes Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.

Critics have voiced their disapproval, yet the United States keeps rolling forward with a perfect 4-0 record heading into another semifinal clash. History favors America heavily in this matchup against Spain. The U.S. has won every one of the last 11 meetings according to FIBA data, including both the 2014 World Cup final and the gold-medal game from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Since their only loss came to Russia back in the 2006 semifinals, Americans have secured 34 straight World Cup victories. They are now just two wins short of a fifth consecutive title. Spain returns after missing qualification in 2022 and sits on three World Cup medals but lacks gold.

The semifinal starts Saturday at 6 p.m. local time in Berlin. DiLeo aims to guide Spain past the U.S., even if it means beating the player she once helped sign for Iowa. A download link for Outkick is currently available on the Fox News app.