BERLIN — Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have developed strong on-court chemistry during their first FIBA Women’s World Cup with the United States, despite the intense rivalry that has followed them since their college careers.
Clark and Reese have drawn constant attention from fans and on social media since their 2023 NCAA championship matchup, which helped fuel debates around the two stars. Their time together with the US national team, however, has shown a different side of their relationship.
The United States defeated Italy 108-56 in Thursday’s quarterfinal, with Clark and Reese combining effectively on offense. A pick-and-roll between the two produced a Reese layup at the end of the first quarter, while Reese later found Clark on a fast break for another basket.
“We know each other’s game like the back of each other’s hand, she knows my spots,” Reese said of Clark. “We just continue to build chemistry because we know we’re going to be USA teammates for a while.”
Clark said she enjoys Reese’s competitiveness and dismissed narratives that suggest tension between them.
“No matter what, there’s always going to be people that create those narratives and say whatever they want to say,” Clark said. “I think for ourselves, like I said, it’s easy for us to just come in here and compete.”
The two players also have shared the court with the 2024 WNBA All-Star team, which defeated the US Olympic team.
Their rivalry gained prominence during the 2023 NCAA championship game, when Reese’s LSU team defeated Clark’s Iowa team. Reese’s on-court gestures, including pointing toward her ring finger late in the game, intensified the attention surrounding the matchup.
Clark said she respects Reese’s determination and has enjoyed playing alongside her.
One lighthearted moment came during the tournament opener against China when Reese pulled Clark off the court after Clark stepped in before the referee officially allowed her to enter.
“The ref had gotten mad at me a couple of times prior, so she was saving me from the ref getting mad at me again,” Clark said with a laugh.
Reese and Clark will soon return to opposing sides in the WNBA playoffs. Reese’s Atlanta Dream and Clark’s Indiana Fever both finished the regular season 26-14 and could meet in the first round if the current seeding remains unchanged.
For now, the two remain teammates with the US national team as they pursue another major international title.