Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese helped Team USA win gold at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, and Clark used the moment to put an end to years of rivalry talk between the two stars.
“We’ve always been friends,” Clark said of Reese after Sunday’s final, telling OutKick “don’t do that” when asked about speculation over their relationship.
The two sat side by side on the bench throughout the tournament’s final round, laughing together at times and sharing emotional moments when the team trailed. They connected on several key plays and helped shift momentum in the gold medal game against France right before halftime. The World Cup marked the first time Clark and Reese played together in high-stakes competition.
Their history goes back to the 2023 women’s college basketball national championship, when Reese pointed at her ring finger toward Clark in a moment that became a lasting flashpoint. When both reached the pros, their second head-to-head matchup drew more than 2.2 million viewers.
Despite the public narrative, the two have generally spoken about each other with respect in interviews. Asked about Reese in a 2024 Time Magazine interview tied to her Athlete of the Year award, Clark said:
“We’re not best friends, by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another. Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?”
Reese, for her part, had signaled early on that she hoped the two would eventually play on the same team. In a WSJ Magazine interview later in 2024, she said, “We brought a lot of fans to this league. And I think we’re going to continue to do that. And one day, hopefully, we’ll be teammates.”
That happened for the first time at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, where Clark recorded 10 assists and Reese posted 12 points and 11 rebounds as Team WNBA beat the U.S. Olympic team.
In March, Clark and Reese helped Team USA go 5-0 at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico. They have now capped that run with a gold medal in Berlin, and with the 2028 Olympics set for Los Angeles, it may not be the last time they share a court for their country.
