The Caitlin Clark Angel Reese friendship is drawing fresh attention after the two WNBA stars helped Team USA capture the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin.
For years, Clark and Reese have often been portrayed as fierce rivals dating back to their college careers. However, their experience together on the international stage offered a different picture, with the two players sharing the court, connecting on important plays and celebrating a major championship together.
Caitlin Clark says she and Angel Reese have always been friends
Following the World Cup final against France, Clark was asked about her relationship with Reese. Her response pushed back against the idea that their basketball rivalry necessarily reflected a personal feud.
“We’ve always been friends,” Clark said.
The comment came after the pair had spent the tournament together as members of the U.S. team. During the final rounds, Clark and Reese were seen sitting near each other on the bench, laughing together and sharing emotional moments as Team USA battled through the championship game.
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark gold medal moment
The Angel Reese Caitlin Clark gold medal story became possible after Team USA completed its run at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
The tournament marked the first time Clark and Reese had played together in high-stakes competition. Despite the years of attention surrounding their rivalry, both players were able to put that history aside and contribute to the same championship goal.
Their connection was particularly noticeable during the gold medal game against France. The two were involved in several key plays that helped shift momentum for the United States before halftime.
From college rivals to Team USA teammates
Clark and Reese’s basketball relationship became a major storyline during their college careers. Their most famous moment came during the 2023 women’s college basketball national championship, when Reese’s celebration toward Clark intensified the perception that the two were bitter rivals.
That rivalry continued to attract significant attention once they entered the WNBA. Their second professional matchup reportedly attracted more than 2.2 million viewers, highlighting the enormous interest surrounding their meetings.
Yet their public comments about each other have generally remained respectful.
Clark previously described the relationship in a 2024 interview by acknowledging their competitive history while emphasizing mutual respect. Reese, meanwhile, had expressed hope that the two could eventually become teammates.
Clark and Reese had already played together
The 2026 World Cup was not actually the first time Clark and Reese shared a team.
They became teammates at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, where Clark recorded 10 assists and Reese posted 12 points and 11 rebounds as Team WNBA defeated the U.S. Olympic team.
The pair also helped the United States go 5-0 at the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico in March before completing the championship run in Berlin.
What the FIBA World Cup means for Team USA
The Caitlin Clark FIBA World Cup experience provided another important chapter in her international career and gave basketball fans a chance to see her work alongside Reese rather than against her.
For Caitlin Clark Team USA basketball, the tournament also represented an opportunity to contribute alongside some of the country’s top players on one of the biggest stages in women’s basketball.
The success of Clark and Reese together could have significance beyond the 2026 tournament. With the 2028 Olympics scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, the possibility of seeing the two stars continue working together for Team USA will likely remain a major storyline.
A rivalry that became a partnership
The story of Clark and Reese has long been shaped by competition. But their World Cup experience showed another side of their relationship.
Rather than focusing on their history as opponents, the two WNBA stars embraced their roles as teammates and helped the United States win a gold medal. Clark’s description of their relationship as a friendship adds another layer to a rivalry that has generated enormous attention throughout women’s basketball.
Their journey from highly publicized college opponents to World Cup champions together could ultimately become one of the defining stories of the next generation of women’s basketball.
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