The competitive rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has been a dominant basketball storyline for nearly half a decade.
But it is far from a personal rivalry.
The funny if not ironic truth about Clark and Reese is they play off of each other almost perfectly, yet they always have been competitive adversaries.
Until this year’s FIBA World Cup, of course.
MORE: Breanna Stewart and Team USA produced their best FIBA World Cup performance yet against Czechia
Clark and Reese are teammates for the duration of the World Cup in Germany, where the United States clinched a perfect group-stage record by defeating Czechia on Monday.
Clark set up Reese for a layup in the final minute of the 105-64 win, emblematic of how both players are stepping up amid injuries to Team USA veterans. Clark executed a slick crossover and flipped a pass down low for Reese, who converted off the glass.
The Caitlin Clark x Angel Reese connection is legit 🤝 #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/fh1VBUmeT5
— FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) September 7, 2026
Reese has filled in for the injured A’ja Wilson in her first major tournament with the United States. Entering Thursday’s quarterfinal against either Japan or Hungary, the Atlanta Dream star leads Team USA in rebounding at 6.0 boards per game, and her 8.7 points per game are fourth among the 12 American players.
Clark’s role has been enhanced amid Kelsey Plum’s injury-enforced absence, and she is Team USA’s assists leader at 6.3 per game. Despite not starting a game yet, the Indiana Fever star is the team leader in plus-minus and boasts a 19-4 assist-turnover ratio.
Reese and Clark will be positioned against one another for the rest of their careers. But the World Cup reinforces the myth of their rivalry and how they are stronger together.
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