On a night when the confetti rained down on Team USA, every player, including debutants like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers and more, was over the moon. After all, they had beaten their toughest opponent of the tournament, and rivals France, in emphatic fashion after the European side built a 14-point lead in the first half. Yet, on the night were USA brightest stars won the nation it’s fifths consecutive World Cup title, some were still stuck on WNBA rivalries.

As Caitlin Clark spoke to the media after USA beat France 97-79, Clark was asked about her relationship with Angel Reese by a reporter in the press conference. When the reporter asked if she was now friends with Reese, Clark snapped back, as shared by BallinEurope on YouTube.

“We’ve always been friends. Don’t try to do that,” Clark told the reporter, clearly frustrated with the question, as she walked away.

Later during Chelsea Gray’s interview, Clark once again called out the reporter when she had to walk by the media availability area.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” she asked.

Then again, the reaction from Clark wasn’t surprising. Not only had Clark won her debut FIBA World Cup, but it was the Indiana Fever guard’s buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the first half that shifted the momentum in Team USA’s favor. Following that play, it was Angel Reese who got the most hyped for CC making that shot.

Besides that, the media has been asking questions about her rivalry with Angel Reese since they were in college, when Reese and the LSU Tigers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 NCAA Division I National Championship game.

In fact, Clark had already cleared the air about being on amicable terms with Reese two years ago in an interview with Time Magazine for Clark’s Athlete of the Year Award.

“We’re not best friends, by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another. Yes, we have had tremendous battles. But when have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?”

Now two years later, throughout their first FIBA World Cup, Clark and Reese have not shown anything but mutual respect and selflessness on the court. Following Clark and Reese’s linkup going viral after Team USA’s quarterfinal, Reese had glowing words for the Indiana Fever star while speaking to TNT Sports.

“We’ve played against each other so many times. I’m sure we know each other’s game like the back of each other’s hand.”

“Just easily dishing it off to her. She dishes off to me. She knows my spots. I kinda got one to her today, maybe two. So it’s fun. We just continue to build chemistry because we know we’re gonna be USA teammates for a while.”

And it wasn’t just the Atlanta Dream star and Clark who focused on lifting their teammates and working toward adding a 12th World Cup for Team USA. Despite having just days to prepare for the World Cup as a team because the WNBA didn’t go on a break before August 31, the seven first-timers from Team USA didn’t just work with the veterans; they showed that when they spoke about leaving their WNBA rivalries stateside, they meant it.

It wasn’t just CaitlinClark and Angel Reese who left their WNBA rivalries behind

The WNBA rivalry element among Team USA players was a big talking point ahead of the World Cup, but players like Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese made it clear that they wouldn’t drag league rivalries into the picture when representing the Stars and Stripes. Bueckers directly responded to how they were approaching this tournament in an exclusive interview with FIBA.

“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. 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.”

While Angel Reese didn’t directly address the rivalry, her response to A’ja Wilson’s absence due to a back injury hinted at the mindset even the youngest stars on the teams were carrying into the World Cup.

“I honestly don’t think so, because I think this team is so talented. Of course, A’ja brings a lot for us, for sure, her and KP. But we’re just trying to focus on who is here, figure that out, and make sure we’re all up to par and ready for the show.”

During the tournament, Caitlin Clark showed similar confidence in her teammates. Clark was part of a media interaction session after Team USA’s win over China. After Clark’s team-high 14 points and 11 assists in the 94-61 win over China, the Indiana Fever guard was full of praise for her team.

“Anybody I pass the ball to. It feels like they’re never gonna miss a shot. That’s one of my goals when I come into the game. Facilitate, play fast, set up my teammates, get into the paint, get some penetration, especially with their zone.”

“That’s one of my focus points coming into the game… Allow my teammates to get open looks.”

After the quarterfinal game against Hungary, which Team USA won, 108-56, Reese spoke about how the team had been able to “rely on each other,” and that they could “go through these learning process together,” with this being several players’ first senior international event. Clark publicly backed her up in her own postgame conference.

“No matter what, there’s always going to be people that create those narratives and say whatever they want to say. There’s definitely no stopping that, and they’re always going to be there. I think for ourselves, it’s easy for us to just come in here and compete.”

Against the French team, their resilience and belief in each other came through. The Americans came back from being down 14 to win their fifth straight gold medal at the FIBA World Cup, with Clark being the primary bench scoring option for the team. She finished with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting, as well as three assists.