On August 20, Caitlin Clark got into a heated exchange with Paige Bueckers as the Dallas Wings took on the Indiana Fever. During the second quarter, Clark was seen getting visibly frustrated after being the recipient of a foul from Bueckers, who simply asked Clark to “calm down.” Now that both of them are part of Team USA for the FIBA World Cup, the rivalry has made way for mutual admiration and respect for each other’s game.

Clark echoed this sentiment in a recent interview ahead of USA’s opening game against China on September 4, while highlighting an important aspect of Bueckers’ game.

“Yeah, I mean, obviously it’s really fun to play with Paige. I’ve grown up playing against her and with her since a very young age, so very fun experience to be here,” Clark said via @Taillesix on Instagram on September 3. “Obviously, I think she’s one of the best off-ball players in the league. She cuts really well. She has great feel for the game. I think our chemistry has been really good and, you know, obviously just gaining more and more momentum through that as we go through the tournament.”

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers have enjoyed a good rivalry ever since both entered the league. The former number-one picks have established themselves as mainstays for their respective teams, the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings, and have surpassed many individual milestones along the way.

However, paired together, Clark and Bueckers have the potential to be the USA’s default backcourt pairing not just for this World Cup, but for years to come.

While Clark provides the ability to stretch the defense with her elite perimeter shooting and find that final pass with ease, Bueckers’ movement off the ball and the ability to convert shots at an efficient rate complement Clark. The data backs this up as well. Clark leads the WNBA in assists per game at 8.4, and Bueckers displays a staggering 50.6% shooting from the field, per ESPN.

Bueckers also realizes that her gameplay synchronizes with Clark with ease.

“Yeah, honestly, we have great on-court chemistry,” said Bueckers. “It’s kind of natural and organic. It’s been a while since we’ve played together, but it’s almost like no time has passed.”

Bueckers also explained their roles in detail and also praised Clark’s Indiana Fever teammate Aliyah Boston’s prowess on the defensive end of the floor.

“Obviously, with Caitlin, you want to run the floor, be a great wing, be a great cutter, move off the ball. And with AB (Aliyah Boston), she’s an amazing screener, an amazing defender. She does really a lot of things well. So she makes it easy for us guards, screening really well, rolling really well, and she’s expanding her game for the three-point line. So, playing with both those weapons, offensively and defensively, they make it really easy.”

For this edition of the World Cup, the onus is on this young team to put their club-level differences aside and focus on just one goal: bring that fifth straight World Cup trophy back home.

Bueckers, showing immense maturity, echoed this sentiment.

“Right now we’re on the same team – we’re wearing the same jersey. Talking trash and having rivalries, that’s in the love of the game,” Bueckers said, per FIBA. “It’s all in the means of respect. We’re just competitors – we wanna win. Going at each other, I think, is a form of endearment for us. When we’re on the same team, it’s all love, and we all have the same common goal, and we’re all trying to win together.”

The USA will face China in their opening Group D game on September 4, before taking on Italy on September 6 and Czechia on September 7.