Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese remain headliners even with Team USA’s FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign. After Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson withdrew, the Americans remain the heavy favorites to win the competition.
Clark and Reese are on a team that includes Olympic gold medal winners Breanna Stewart, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Napheesa Collier, and Kahleah Copper. Coach Kara Lawson’s roster also has Paige Bueckers, Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen.
As stacked as the lineup is, sports analyst Jason Whitlock sees the Clark-Reese tandem as critical to the Americans’ hopes of winning gold again, leaving the WNBA world buzzing.
Jason Whitlock’s Latest Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese Take Has WNBA Community Absolutely Losing It
An argument could be easily made that if Team USA were to replace the Indiana Fever point guard and the Atlanta Dream forward, the Americans’ odds of retaining the gold medal would remain.
Still, on Tuesday’s “Fearless” podcast, Whitlock stressed that the well-known rivals “have to play nice for Team USA to win gold in the women’s World Cup.”
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are going to have to play nice for Team USA to win gold in the Women’s World Cup. pic.twitter.com/LU9SIw0dz6
— Jason Whitlock (@jasonwhitlock) September 1, 2026
The veteran sports analyst’s take drew sharp reactions from the WNBA community.
“How about, @Reese10Angel doesn’t need to play at all,” a WNBA observer wrote.
How about, @Reese10Angel doesn’t need to play at all.
— Matthew Carson (@MCarson35448) September 1, 2026
“Reese is an embarrassment. With all the misses, she is a liability,” another WNBA observer tweeted.
Reese is an embarrassment. With all the misses she is a liability
— MrLionLife (@HappyGoLionLife) September 1, 2026
“Why exactly is Angel Reese on Team USA?” a Houston Texans supporter asked.
“Reese is an unskilled crybaby. What will they do when she airballs her first three layups or gets her shot blocked ten times in the first half,” an X user tweeted.
A few, though, are hoping the players will set aside the WNBA competition and compete for the American flag.
“Hopefully, they can both be professional and put performance over personality,” a basketball enthusiast reacted.
“We can ALL come together for Team USA. Let the youngsters run the 2nd team with extreme pace. Let the old dogs set the tone. A different star every game is okay, just win!!!!” another X user remarked.
We can ALL come together for Team USA . Let the youngsters run the 2nd team with extreme pace. Let the old dogs set the tone. A different star every game is okay, just win!!!!
— tom disonell (@disonellt) September 1, 2026
Recent evidence shows that Clark and Reese can put their rivalry aside and produce for USA Basketball.
At March’s FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico, Clark and Reese already proved that they could play well together. They helped Team USA to another gold-medal finish. The Fever superstar averaged 6.4 assists per game, the best in the competition, while her Dream counterpart tallied 8.0 rebounds per contest, second-best in the tournament.
Clark, named the MVP, is expected to have the same role in Berlin. Lawson is also asking Reese to replicate her part as a rebounding machine and defensive anchor.
If they fall below expectations, Lawson can count on an embarrassment of riches to help the team succeed, prompting fans to blast Whitlock’s take.
For Team USA, the real test isn’t whether Clark and Reese can “play nice.” It’s whether they can turn their individual strengths into another gold medal romp.
