Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese Bond at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese shared the bench during the final round of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. They were often seen laughing together and expressing emotion when their team faced setbacks. Their teamwork on several key plays shifted the momentum of the gold medal game against France right before halftime. This World Cup marked the first time Clark and Reese played together in a high-stakes event, culminating in a championship win. Despite narratives of rivalry throughout their college and pro careers, Clark confirms their friendship.

“We’ve always been friends,” Clark stated about Reese after the final, responding to a question by OutKick about their relationship. She added, “don’t do that,” to downplay any perceived tensions.

Speculation about their relationship dates back to the 2023 women’s college basketball national championship when Reese famously pointed to her ring finger towards Clark. Their following pro encounters drew significant attention, with their second match attracting over 2.2 million viewers. In media discussions, both players have remained cordial, with Clark speaking positively about Reese in a 2024 Time Magazine interview for her Athlete of The Year Award.

“We’re not best friends by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another,” she said. “Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?”

Even in the early days of their rivalry, Reese expressed a wish to be teammates with Clark. In a 2024 WSJ Magazine interview, she noted, “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.” This aspiration became reality at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, where Clark recorded 10 assists, and Reese added 12 points and 11 rebounds in Team WNBA’s victory over the U.S. Olympic team.

In March, Clark and Reese contributed to the U.S. team’s 5-0 performance at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico, culminating in their success in Berlin. With the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles on the horizon, this partnership may continue on the international stage.

Jackson Thompson, a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covers critical political and cultural issues in sports from an investigative perspective. His work has been cited in federal government actions related to Title IX enforcement and by major publications like The New York Times and ESPN.com.