Caitlin Clark delivered a curt response to a reporter who inquired about her relationship with WNBA rival Angel Reese following Team USA's gold medal victory at the FIBA Women's World Cup. The Americans secured their fifth consecutive title by defeating France 97-79 in Berlin on Sunday.
Despite their history as fierce competitors in college and the WNBA, Clark and Reese played as teammates for the USA throughout the tournament. After the championship game, a reporter asked Clark if she and Reese were now "friends." Clark responded firmly, "We've always been friends," before wagging her finger at the reporter and adding, "Don't try to do that." She further chided the reporter after her interview concluded, shaking her head.
Clark and Reese were notable rivals during their college careers, with Reese's LSU team defeating Clark's Iowa team in the 2023 national championship game. Their rivalry continued into the WNBA, where both have become prominent stars.
Earlier in the tournament, Reese also addressed her partnership with Clark. Following the USA's decisive 108-56 victory over Hungary, Reese commented on their on-court chemistry. "Yeah, I mean, 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," Reese said. "So just easily dishing it off to her, she dishes it off to me. She knows my slides... So it's fun. We just continue to build chemistry because we know we're going to be USA teammates for a while."