Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese will have to work together to uphold American dominance in the Women's Basketball World Cup in September.At home, the WNBA will take a two-week break from hosting the chaos of the 2026 season.So Americans will have to root together for their biggest stars on the world stage.
The U.S.has won four consecutive World Cups in a row and this year's team will also have to protect an active 30-game win streak.What happens in Berlin could very well shape the climate of the league that the players return to when the WNBA season resumes.Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark of the USA Women's National Team look on during a game against Puerto Rico during the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament on March 12, 2026, at Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
(NBAE via Getty Images)Clark and Reese have spent more than three years framed as adversaries.The last time they were on a basketball court, Clark was seen laughing as she walked by Reese, who had just missed the game-winning layup.Their rivalry fueled the 2023 national championship game between Iowa and LSU.It followed them into a rematch in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, then into the WNBA as the top two contenders for Rookie of the Year.
Every matchup, foul and postgame comment became another invitation for fans to choose a side.But at times, they've also shown glimpses of what that can look like when playing together.Reese first said, "one day, hopefully, we can be teammates," while discussing Clark in an October 2024 Wall Street Journal article.They first became teammates at the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, when Clark recorded 10 assists and Reese finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds in Team WNBA’s victory over the U.S.Olympic team.CAITLIN CLARK HELPS WNBA SHATTER ANOTHER TV RATINGS RECORD AS FEVER-DREAM DRAWS MASSIVE AUDIENCEIn March, Clark and Reese helped the U.S.
go 5-0 at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.There was an awkward moment when Clark appeared to ign...