Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark

Angel Reese and Caitlin ClarkLAPRESSE

 

The rivalry betweenCaitlin Clarkand Angel Reese is entering a surprising new chapter, as the two stars prepare to play together for Team USA, already generating buzz after their first practice.

Both players, normally opponents in the WNBA, have joined the national squad ahead of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament, which will take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico from March 11 through March 17.

Team USA’s arrival in Puerto Rico immediately drew attention online, particularly when practice clips featuring Clark and Reese were shared across social media platforms.

Fans reacted quickly, eager to see how two of women’s basketball’s biggest personalities might work together after years of competing against one another at multiple levels of the sport.

Clark, a guard for the Indiana Fever, produced one of the most widely shared practice highlights when she drained a three-pointer following a pass from Paige Bueckers.

The clip prompted excited reactions online, with fans imagining what the backcourt partnership could look like during the tournament.

One fan wrote online, “PB to CC !!! This backcourt duo.”

A second added, “Paige To CC.”

And a third said, “Let’s go CC.”

Meanwhile, Reese, who plays forward for the Chicago Sky, showcased the interior skills that have defined her career with a strong hook shot in traffic during the same practice session.

The play highlighted Reese’s comfort battling in the paint, even when facing tight defensive pressure from teammates during drills.

Clark enters the tournament with impressive career numbers, averaging 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game while establishing herself as one of the sport’s most dynamic guards.

Reese has built her reputation in a different way, producing dominant rebounding performances and averaging 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds across her career.

Together, their contrasting skill sets could create balance for Team USA, combining Clark’s perimeter scoring and playmaking with Reese’s ability to control rebounds and finish near the basket.

Can Reese and Clark move past rivalry to land Team USA success?

Despite the excitement surrounding their partnership, questions remain about how easily the two rivals can transition into teammates on the international stage.

Their competitive relationship dates back to college basketball, when Reese led the LSU Tigers women’s basketball to victory over Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball in the 2023 NCAA championship game.

That matchup drew national attention and sparked widespread discussion, particularly when Reese was spotted gloating at Clark, although the latter somewhat got revenge the following year when the Hawkeyes stopped the Tigers from potentially going back-to-back.

The storyline continued when Clark entered the WNBA with the Indiana Fever and Reese joined the Chicago Sky, immediately making matchups between the two Eastern Conference sides into must-watch events for fans.

Games between the two teams frequently produced physical battles and emotional moments, reinforcing the idea that the players represented opposite styles of the sport.

Clark thrives as a long-range shooter and elite passer, often orchestrating offenses from the perimeter with deep three-point range and quick decision-making.

Reese, by contrast, dominates inside with relentless rebounding, physical defense and constant pressure around the rim.

Those differences have helped fuel the rivalry, but they could also become strengths when the players share the court for Team USA.

Their ability to complement each other will be tested throughout the qualifying tournament, where the Americans aim to secure their place in the upcoming Women’s World Cup.

Even so, early practice clips suggest fans are already captivated by the possibility of the rivals finding chemistry together.