Are Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese friends? Fever star makes shock revelation after USA's World Cup triumph

Are Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese friends? Fever star makes shock revelation after USA’s World Cup triumph originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The U.S. women’s basketball national team captured its fifth-straight World Cup title in style, downing opponents by an average margin of victory of more than 26 points en route to the gold.

Among the most important architects of that dominance were Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, who enjoyed standout maiden tourneys for the unbeaten Americans.

Clark and Reese played valuable minutes throughout the competition, cementing their status as future standard-bearers for Kara Lawson’s side. They also appeared to relish one another’s company during the campaign, a stark contrast from the conjecture that surrounds the two players during the domestic season.

With that, here’s what Clark had to say about her and Reese’s relationship after the U.S.’s World Cup triumph.

MORE: Updated game logs for Caitlin Clark at 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup

Caitlin Clark makes shock revelation about relationship with Angel Reese

Clark was all smiles after the U.S. vanquished France in the World Cup final, posing with Reese and guest-starring in the Dream standout’s celebratory TikTok after the Americans claimed their gold medal.

CAITLIN WITH ANGEL AND RHYNE WOW pic.twitter.com/AcID1pRzos

— correlation (@nosyone4) September 13, 2026

🎥| Angel Reese in a new TikTok with her Team USA teammates after winning the FIBA Women’s World Cup.

[via angelreese10 tt] pic.twitter.com/q2khiqvqaN

— angel reese source (@ar5source) September 13, 2026

The accolade proved especially significant to Clark and Reese, who collected their first piece of hardware as members of the senior national team.

Clark spoke with reporters briefly after celebrations concluded. When asked whether she and Reese — typically cast as rivals — were “friends now,” Clark was quick to respond.

“We’ve always been friends,” Clark said while wagging her finger. “Don’t try to do that.”

“We’ve always been friends don’t try to do that” and the finger wag LMFAOOOOOOOO oh demon 😭😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/nBrDPjrjKM

— the grinch (@WALKEDH0ME) September 13, 2026

Clark swiftly walked off in the other direction. Moments later, she returned, continuing to reprimand the reporter.

“Don’t do that,” Clark said.

MORE: Revisiting the last time USA failed to win the FIBA Women’s World Cup

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese friendship, explained

Clark and Reese have typically been pitted as diametrically opposed to one another throughout their basketball careers. Recent evidence would suggest that might not completely be the case.

The duo enjoyed ample success in Berlin, with Clark emerging as one of the U.S.’s finest playmakers and Reese proving to be among the roster’s most versatile defenders. Both were key to Sunday’s win — Clark erupted for 12 points, while Reese proved a successful deterrent to the likes of Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaun as the game wore on.

They also relished in each other’s success. Reese celebrated a successful Clark triple vociferously 

Caitlin Clark & Angel Reese 🤞🏾🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/aCJLwb1wbS

— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) September 13, 2026

Onlookers were left impressed by Clark and Reese’s harmony alongside one another. The two were a formidable battery — Clark was the savvy hurler, while Reese was the efficient play finisher.

“We’ve played against each other so many times, so I’m sure we know each other’s games like the back of each other’s hand,” Reese told Allie LaForce on Sept. 10. “She knows my spots…We just continue to build chemistry because we know we’re going to be USA teammates for a while.”

Angel Reese on her chemistry with Caitlin Clark:

“I’m sure we know each other’s game like the back of each other’s hand … So it’s fun. We just continue to build chemistry because we know we’re going to be USA teammates for a while.”pic.twitter.com/r5Go2pQWew

— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) September 10, 2026

The impending postseason is sure to strain even the closest friendships in the WNBA universe. Still, the assumption that Clark and Reese are off-court foes appears a tad flimsy under scrutiny.

MORE: U.S. women extend World Cup win streak with triumph over France in gold-medal game

Caitlin Clark World Cup stats

StatTotalGames6Minutes per game19.3Points per game7.8Rebounds per game2.2Assists per game5.3Steals per game0.7Blocks per game0.0Turnovers per game2.2FG-FGA (%)14-39 (35.9%)3P-3PA (%)7-25 (28.0%)FT-FTA (%)12-17 (70.6%)

Angel Reese World Cup stats

StatTotalGames6Minutes per game15.0Points per game7.2Rebounds per game5.0Assists per game0.7Steals per game1.2Blocks per game0.8Turnovers per game1.5FG-FGA (%)13-22 (59.1%)3P-3PA (%)0-0 (0.0%)FT-FTA (%)17-31 (54.8%)