Angel Reese has spoken about the burgeoning on-court chemistry between herself and Caitlin Clark, as the two former collegiate rivals now play together for Team USA at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Germany.
After a decisive 108-56 victory over Hungary on Thursday, where both Clark and Reese contributed solid offensive performances, Reese commented on the team's growing cohesion. Clark scored 10 points with 9 assists, while Reese added 9 points and 6 rebounds.
"When you have so much talent around you, it makes everything easy," Reese said. "We're still figuring each other out, but I think we're gelling at the perfect time. Being able to go into semifinals looking like this feels really good. I'm excited."
Reese acknowledged that her familiarity with Clark's game, developed through numerous past matchups, has facilitated their successful partnership on the international stage. "We've played against each other so many times, so I'm sure we know each other's game like the back of each other's hand," she stated. "So just easily dishing it off to her, she dishes it off to me. She knows my slides... It's fun."
The pair's history includes a notable rivalry during their college careers, with Reese's LSU team defeating Clark's Iowa team in the 2023 national championship game. This competitive dynamic continued into their professional careers in the WNBA.
Team USA has advanced to the semifinals and will face the winner of the Spain vs. Australia game on Saturday. The American team navigated the group stage without a loss, defeating China, Italy, and Czechia, and is considered a favorite to win its 12th World Cup title.
"We just continue to build chemistry because we know we're going to be USA teammates for a while," Reese added, indicating optimism about their long-term collaboration.