Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese had their greatest recreation collectively as teammates on Thursday within the quarterfinal spherical of the FIBA Girls’s World Cup in opposition to Hungary.
Their connection helped lead a historic 108-56 win for Group USA. It additionally gave followers one other have a look at the rising partnership between two stars whose careers have been outlined by competing in opposition to one another.
Clark and Reese repeatedly linked through the victory. Clark completed with 10 factors, 9 assists, three rebounds and two steals. Reese added 9 factors, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
Reese mentioned their lengthy historical past as opponents has made taking part in collectively simpler.
“Yeah, I imply, we’ve performed in opposition to one another so many instances. So I’m certain we all know one another’s recreation. Just like the again of one another’s hand. So I simply simply dished it off to her. She dished it off to me. She is aware of my slides. I sort of acquired one to her immediately or perhaps two. So it’s enjoyable. We simply proceed to construct chemistry as a result of we all know we’re going to be USA teammates for some time,” Reese mentioned in an interview with TNT after the sport.
Caitlin Clark #12 excessive fives Angel Reese #15 of the USA Basketball Girls’s Nationwide Group throughout a recreation in opposition to Hungary on Sept. 10, 2026, at Berlin Enviornment in Berlin, Germany. (NBAE through Getty Photos)
Each gamers got here off the bench once more Thursday, however their shared minutes gave Group USA a mix it could depend on all through the remainder of the match. Clark creates scoring alternatives along with her passing and outdoors capturing. Reese supplies rebounding, bodily protection and strain across the basket.
Whereas they have been on the bench collectively, they have been seen speaking and laughing in a now-viral clip.
Their partnership has developed regardless of a historical past that has fueled one of the vital intense debates in American sports activities.
The 2 stars first grew to become completely linked through the 2023 NCAA championship recreation. Reese led LSU to a 102-85 victory over Clark and Iowa earlier than directing a “you possibly can’t see me” gesture at Clark and pointing towards her ring finger late within the recreation.
The second sparked a nationwide argument about sportsmanship, race and perceived double requirements. Clark had used the same gesture earlier within the NCAA Match, and he or she later defended Reese in opposition to the criticism she obtained.
ANGEL REESE AND CAITLIN CLARK EXCHANGE WORDS IN SECOND DREAM-FEVER MEETING IN THREE DAYS
Their rematch within the 2024 Elite Eight grew to become one of the vital anticipated video games in girls’s school basketball historical past. Clark produced 41 factors and 12 assists as Iowa defeated LSU 94–87. Reese completed with 17 factors and 20 rebounds earlier than fouling out.
The rivalry adopted them into the WNBA after the Indiana Fever chosen Clark first total and the Chicago Sky drafted Reese seventh in 2024.
Clark in the end gained the league’s Rookie of the Yr award. Reese led the WNBA in rebounding and joined Clark on the All-Rookie crew. The fixed comparisons between their performances stored the rivalry on the middle of the league’s fast rise in consideration.
Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese look on throughout apply as a part of the FIBA Girls’s Basketball World Cup 2026 on Sept. 5, 2026, in Berlin, Germany. (NBAE through Getty Photos)
Their skilled matchups additionally produced tense moments. Reese obtained a flagrant foul after putting Clark within the head throughout a 2024 recreation. Within the opening recreation of the 2025 season, Clark obtained a flagrant foul for knocking Reese to the ground as Reese tried to attain. Reese rapidly confronted Clark earlier than teammates separated them.
Each gamers mentioned the latter incident was merely a basketball play. They’ve additionally repeatedly rejected the suggestion that their competitors quantities to a private feud.
They beforehand confirmed they might play collectively through the 2024 WNBA All-Star Recreation. Clark assisted Reese on a layup as Group WNBA defeated the U.S. Olympic crew. Clark completed with 10 assists, whereas Reese recorded 12 factors and 11 rebounds.
Their World Cup partnership carries considerably greater stakes.
Neither participant made the American roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The World Cup represents their first senior worldwide match and a chance to ascertain themselves as a part of this system’s future earlier than the 2028 Los Angeles Video games.
Clark publicly praised Reese earlier than the quarterfinal, calling her a fiery competitor with one of many strongest motors within the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark of USA, Angel Reese of USA through the FIBA Girls’s Basketball World Cup Germany 2026 quarter-final between USA and Hungary at Berlin Enviornment on September 10, 2026 in Berlin, Germany. (Picture by Christina Pahnke – sampics/Getty Photos) (Christina Pahnke – sampics/Getty Photos)
“We’re each fiery, fiery rivals and we wish to win and it is one of many issues I actually admire about [Reese’s] recreation,” Clark instructed the Related Press. “She’s aggressive and he or she has an incredible motor, like she has top-of-the-line motors within the league. She works simply as onerous as anyone on the court docket. So, it has been enjoyable to have the ability to play along with her.”
That aggressive power helped gas a historic efficiency Thursday.
The Individuals scored 36 factors within the opening quarter and took a 59–30 benefit into halftime. Group USA shot 59% from the sphere and recorded 31 assists on 40 baskets. Its 108 factors have been probably the most ever scored in a Girls’s World Cup quarterfinal.
The victory prolonged the US’ World Cup profitable streak to 34 video games and moved the crew inside two victories of a fifth consecutive championship.
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Group USA will face the winner of Australia and Spain in Saturday’s semifinal. Clark and Reese will enter that recreation with the identical objective and, for one of many few instances of their careers, the identical followers behind them.
