Over the years, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have been poles apart, despite existing in the same community. Since their college rivalry in Iowa and LSU, both young prodigies have carved out separate niches for themselves. But as they took the court together for Team USA for the first time on Wednesday during the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers, a national analyst came up with an analysis that can’t be ignored.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Veteran sports broadcaster Robin Lundberg pinpointed how Clark and Reese’s performance on the court amplified around each other and the other superstars of the US national team, which eventually led to a 110-46 win over Senegal.

“Just like Caitlin’s skills are amplified around greater talent because you see her passing and playmaking on display, I think Angel’s talent can be magnified around other talent, too,” Lundberg said. “She can do the dirty work and get things done, and not need the ball to be successful. Caitlin also found Angel Reese, not the best defense there, but the point of acknowledgement from Angel for the pass.”

At least for Clark and Reese’s first appearance for the US national team against Senegal, the assessment stands out. Both players quietly fit into their roles in the game. Returning to the court for the first time in 8 months, Clark’s stay on the court was just 19 minutes. But it was enough for her to prove her mettle. Be it showing precise shooting from the deep (4 of 5 in three pointers) or distributing the ball on the court effortlessly, Clark never missed a beat.

CC’s passes were proving more efficient with prolific scorers like Reese, Paige Bueckers, and Rhyne Howard always in the mix. On the contrary, her teammate, Reese’s numbers on the box score, might not appeal as much. But it was equally important in complementing the scorers like Clark and Howard. Reese did exactly what she does best: gain possession on missed chances and loose balls.

Eight rebounds defined her night, along with the 6 points. She disrupted Senegal’s offense, putting in significant physical effort. Being relieved of the pressure to score, courtesy of prolific scorers on the roster, Reese got into her element quickly. These contrasting strengths of Clark and Reese fit like a missing puzzle piece. And combined with the quality of the other players, it collectively uplifted the game.

This cohesive effort, complementing each other’s strengths, will be immensely beneficial for this team in the remaining qualifiers and then in the World Cup. All in all, the team perfectly proved on Wednesday that it can work synergistically, even with multiple superstars. The media narratives about ego clashes among players were the first things to go out the window. Now, the player of the hour herself, Clark, shed light on her emotions of playing for such a star-studded team.

Caitlin Clark opens up on her 19 minutes in her first national team game

Even for a generational talent like Clark, who has been decisive for the teams she played on most occasions, the excitement of representing the national team got to her before the game. On top of that, a national team debut after having almost no game time in the last 8-10 months was bound to add weight to it. But as things turned out, Clark did exactly what she does best: steal the spotlight despite being in a cluster of them.

“I’ve been preparing for this for a really long time,” she said after the game. “There’s nothing like getting to run around out there and having fun, especially with a group of people as talented as this.”

And head coach Kara Lawson knew exactly how to tap into CC’s strengths to get the team’s offensive flow going. “As much as she is a dynamic scorer, she’s one of the most dynamic playmakers in the world as well,” Lawson said. “So we talked about her utilizing all the talent [around her]. This is the most talented team she’s played on. I thought she toggled between playmaking and scoring really well.”

Caitlin Clark’s brief time on the court from the bench deprived fans of more game time with Reese. In the little time they had, they showcased great maturity. CC also stood up to the referee for Reese on one instance and also fed her passes near the paint. CC’s gesture got immense praise from the community. It yet again suggests that the team is gelling well before the World Cup in September.

Following a victory in the Senegal game, Caitlin Clark and co. will take the court again on Thursday. They will face Puerto Rico in San Juan, and the game is set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET. What are your expectations from this game? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments.