The United States just dominated France 97-79 to snatch the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, but the fireworks really started *after* the buzzer. Caitlin Clark, fresh off a gold medal, absolutely leveled a reporter who dared to ask if she and Angel Reese were “friends now.” It was a moment. Clark, 24 years old and an Indiana Fever star, didn’t hold back in the mixed zone, letting the entire world know how she felt about the persistent, tired drama.
“Don’t Try to Do That”: Clark Shuts Down The Noise
After helping the US clinch that huge 97-79 win against France on Sunday, Sept. 13, Clark faced the press. When a reporter hit her with the “are you friends now” line, she didn’t miss a beat. “We’ve always been friends. Don’t try to do that. Don’t try to do that,” Clark fired back, cutting straight through the nonsense. She then just walked away, making it crystal clear she was done with anyone trying to keep that false narrative alive. You gotta love that directness, right? It’s like, can we just celebrate the win and the actual basketball for a second?
From “Fun” Teammates to “Not Best Friends”: The Real Scoop
It’s wild how much media folks want to push a rivalry that just isn’t there, or at least, isn’t what they make it out to be. Angel Reese herself chimed in on September 10 with TNT Sports, saying she was having “fun” playing with Clark. “We’ve played against each other so many times, so I’m sure we know each other’s game like the back of each other’s hand,” Reese said. She even pointed out their on-court chemistry: “She dishes it off to me, I got one to her today, so, it’s fun.” Reese talked about building chemistry and how they’re “going to be USA teammates for a while.” Clearly, the players see something different than the drama merchants. Sure, Clark told TIME in December 2024 they were “not best friends, by any means, but we’re very respectful of one another,” but she also pointed out, “When have I ever guarded her? And when has she guarded me?” That’s the real talk.
The Narrative Game Is Getting Old
Clark’s always been pretty open about the constant chatter. Earlier in the tournament, she told ESPN that “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.” She’s right, isn’t she? But what she did after the FIBA final shows she’s not going to just stand there and take it. For her and Reese, it’s “easy for us to just come in here and compete.” That’s the mindset of champions. Let them hoop, let them win gold together. It’s a powerful statement from Clark, basically telling everyone to chill out and just watch them play ball. We should all be looking forward to seeing these two on the court, tearing it up for Team USA for years to come, no manufactured drama needed.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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