When Team USA’s roster was announced for the 2026 FIBA World Cup, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese sharing the same team’s jersey immediately raised questions. After all, the two had spent years at the center of one of the WNBA’s most recognizable rivalries. Yet by the time the Americans secured their fifth consecutive gold medal, their time together had revealed a very different side of their relationship.
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Naturally, that raised questions about where their relationship stood after years of being portrayed as rivals. So when Fox News’ Jackson Thompson asked Clark whether she and Reese were friends following Team USA’s win over France in the World Cup final, the 24-year-old claimed that the two had always been friends, which did not sit right with OutKick reporter Jon Root.
“I can understand Caitlin Clark not wanting to discuss her relationship with Angel Reese after winning gold in the FIBA World Cup, but it’s clearly a lie that they’ve ‘always been friends’,” Root wrote on X.
Root might think Caitlin Clark’s statement is a lie, but his claim is not without evidence. Clark and Reese have been positioned as rivals since their college days, with Reese’s infamous ring-finger gesture toward Clark during the 2023 NCAA championship becoming a defining moment. That tension followed them into the WNBA, where comparisons between Clark and Reese have remained a constant part of the conversation.
But during the 2026 World Cup, Clark and Reese surprised fans with how their games complemented each other. The Indiana Fever star ran the offense with her playmaking, while the Atlanta Dream forward dominated inside, giving Team USA a balance that just worked. That chemistry carried off the court, too, with the two sharing several lighthearted moments during the Americans’ run to the championship. Their on-court chemistry was part of the reason Team USA was able to push past France for a 97-79 victory.
Neither player has openly embraced the idea that there is genuine animosity between them. In fact, Clark and Reese have repeatedly spoken about their respect for one another. Clark spoke about Reese in an interview with the Associated Press on September 10.
“We’re both fiery, fiery competitors and we want to win, and it’s one of the things I really admire about her game. She’s competitive, and she has a tremendous motor, like she has one of the best motors in the league. She works just as hard as anybody on the court. So, it’s been fun to be able to play with her.”
In an interview with ESPN on September 10, even Reese echoed the sentiment.
“We can kind of rely on each other, lean on each other. This is our first big national event, so being able to play with each other, learn each other and go through these learning process together, it’s fun.”
Still, their growing bond during Team USA’s gold-medal run does raise a larger question for the WNBA. If the rivalry between Clark and Reese has been one of the major forces driving attention toward their games, could seeing the two genuinely get along take some of that intrigue away?
There is certainly evidence that the Clark-Reese dynamic has become a major draw. Their WNBA matchups have repeatedly generated enormous interest, with their rivalry helping turn games between the Fever and Dream into must-watch events. It comes from the fact that they are two young stars with very different playstyles and strengths, competing for wins, recognition, and a place at the center of the league.
That distinction matters when considering Root’s argument. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese do not need to dislike each other for their games to carry weight. Clark’s playmaking and scoring create one kind of challenge, while Reese’s rebounding and interior presence create another. When those contrasting styles meet, the competition itself provides enough tension.
The WNBA will resume its regular season on September 17. Clark and Reese do not have a meeting against each other scheduled in that period, but both of their teams have made it to the playoffs, and that leaves the door open for the two stars to meet again when the stakes are considerably higher.