The basketball stars, both 24, first became major rivals when they faced each other during the 2023 March Madness tournament. Three years later, the pair joined forces to represent the United States at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
While their history has led some fans to question whether the two would work well together on and off the court, Reese and Clark have made it clear that they are enjoying their experience as teammates.
Following the United States' dominant 108-56 victory over Hungary on Thursday, Sept. 10, Reese spoke about the chemistry she has developed with Clark.
The Atlanta Dream star said their familiarity with each other's games has made the transition easier. Having faced each other numerous times, Reese believes they understand each other's strengths and tendencies.
That understanding has already translated into plays on the court, with the two guards regularly finding each other during games.
Reese noted that Clark has been passing the ball to her, while she also managed to set up the Indiana Fever star during their victory over Hungary.
The forward said the pair are continuing to build their chemistry because they expect to remain teammates with the U.S. national team for years to come.
Reese also explained that she and Clark can depend on each other as they navigate their first major international tournament together.
"This is our first big national event," Reese said, adding that learning how to play alongside one another and experiencing the tournament together has been enjoyable.
Clark, meanwhile, acknowledged that people will continue creating narratives about her relationship with Reese. However, she said the pair have chosen to focus on competing and representing their country rather than outside speculation.
According to Clark, there will always be people who make assumptions about their relationship, but that is not something either player can control.
The former college rivals will eventually return to competing against each other when the WNBA season resumes on Sept. 17.
Their rivalry became a major storyline during the 2023 NCAA tournament when Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes faced Reese's LSU Tigers. Their on-court exchanges and trash talk attracted enormous attention and fueled speculation about tension between the two players.
However, both stars have previously spoken positively about each other. Clark has described herself as a fan of Reese, while Reese once compared their relationship to the legendary NBA rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
For now, the former rivals are focused on the same goal: helping Team USA succeed on the international stage.
