Although they struggled in the first half, Team USA pulled away from France in the second half of the FIBA World Cup Finals on Sunday to claim gold. Jackie Young was named Player of the Game after scoring 18 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out five assists. Teammate Breanna Stewart had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the FIBA World Cup.
While the veterans received much praise, Caitlin Clark came off the bench as the only reserve to score in double digits with 12 points. She also had three assists and once again provided a necessary spark for the Team USA offense. Her teammate, fellow reserve Angel Reese, struggled in this particular game.
Reese had just three points, three rebounds, a steal, and a block, despite having a big impact in several previous games. More news: Sophie Cunningham Reveals Why Some WNBA Players Didn’t Like Cathy Engelbert After the win, various Team USA players fielded questions regarding the now-completed FIBA World Cup. Surprisingly, a reporter snuck in a final question for Clark, asking if she and Reese are "friends now" after being teammates for this event.
"We've always been friends. Don't try to do that," Clark said, pointing a finger at the reporter before walking away from the interview. Some believe that a heated feud or rivalry exists between Clark and Reese since college.
Clark played for Iowa, while Reese played for LSU. The two teams met in the 2023 National Championship Game, with Reese and LSU defeating Clark and Iowa. In their Elite Eight rematch during the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Clark and Iowa eliminated Reese and LSU.
Clark then became the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, with Reese selected seventh overall. Three seasons into their careers, Clark's Indiana Fever and Reese's Atlanta Dream both qualified for this year's postseason. It's unknown if they'll meet in the WNBA Playoffs, as the postseason matchups are not yet official.
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