Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are the latest foes-turned-dynamic duo storyline in sports.
After years at the center of one of the most heated rivalries in women’s basketball, the two are thriving after joining forces on Team USA for the 2026 FIBA World Cup.
The chemistry is something the Atlanta star knows is going to last a long time.
Following Team USA’s 108-56 rout of Hungary that punched their ticket to the FIBA World Cup semifinals, Reese was asked about her budding relationship with the 24-year-old guard as the pair shined during the matchup.
“We’ve played against each other so many times, so I’m sure we know each other’s game like the back of each other’s hand,” she told TNT Sports. “So, just easily dish it off to her, she dishes it off to me. She knows my spots. … So it’s fun. We just continue to build chemistry because we know we’re going to be USA teammates for a while.”
Angel Reese on her chemistry with Caitlin Clark:
“I’m sure we know each other’s game like the back of each other’s hand … So it’s fun. We just continue to build chemistry because we know we’re going to be USA teammates for a while.”pic.twitter.com/r5Go2pQWew
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) September 10, 2026
The connection between the two young stars was a major highlight in the game, along with Napheesa Collier’s 19 points.
Clark, coming off the bench, had a game-high nine assists — several of which went Reese’s way.
Clark found Reese three times in about five minutes in a succession of buckets that helped build the Stars and Stripes’ lead in the second quarter.
Reese later paid Clark back, assisting her off of a steal in the second half.
The two also seemed to be having fun on the bench, exchanging laughs.
Clark finished with 10 points. Reese put up nine points along with six rebounds and three assists.
The pair have faced each other dating back to high school, and their head-to-head matchup emerged in the spotlight as they each made names for themselves as the biggest stars in women’s college basketball.
Clark led Iowa to back-to-back NCAA Finals games and lost to LSU in 2023, when Reese had a viral ring finger gesture toward the Hawkeyes star before securing the title.
They have continued to face each other in the WNBA ranks since the Fever took Clark with the No. 1 pick in 2024 and Reese went at No. 7 to Chicago.
Clark later beat out Reese for the 2024 Rookie of the Year award.
During much of that time, fans painted a rivalry between the two. However, neither Reese nor Clark stated publicly they felt that way.
“I don’t have any hard feelings toward her and she doesn’t have any hard feelings towards me,” Reese said while speaking at ComplexCon in 2024. “It’s just basketball and it gets crazy sometimes.
“I’ve been playing against Caitlin since we were probably in eighth or ninth grade. We were both really competitive. I went to Maryland [before transferring to LSU], she went to Iowa and we competed there, so people don’t know the legacy of us being able to play against each other for a really long time.”
Team USA will face either Australia or Spain in the semifinals on Saturday, Sept. 12 for a spot in the championship game.
