Angel Reese wasn’t buying it. At a Team USA practice, she took a hard look at the basket and, without missing a beat, suggested that rim looked lower than regulation height. Paige Bueckers, though? She wasn’t convinced, not one bit. You know how it goes when two competitors like that square off: there was only one way to settle it, right then and there. With teammates watching everything go down, Reese threw out the challenge: jump and touch the rim. The Dallas Wings guard, Bueckers, stepped up, accepted the dare, and made her attempt. But Reese, ever the competitor, wasn’t satisfied with the result. “That wasn’t enough, babe,” she declared, and honestly, you gotta love that fire.
The Vibe Check That Team USA Needed
This whole exchange wasn’t just some random moment, though. The WNBA itself shared the entire thing on Instagram, giving everyone a peek behind the scenes at the atmosphere surrounding the American team at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. It was pure playful banter, sure, but it showed how fast a roster loaded with stars from different WNBA teams has gelled. Think about it: during the WNBA season, Reese is out there for Atlanta, Bueckers is a central figure in Dallas. They’re rivals! But at the World Cup, those rivalries have to flip into partnerships, and fast. This whole rim debate, Bueckers playing along, their teammates’ reactions? It screamed that this group is finding ways to enjoy the process, to build that chemistry before the serious pressure hits.
Early Dominance, Early Tests
And that chemistry is already making an impact. Reese and Bueckers walked into the tournament with different roles, but both made their presence felt immediately. Team USA’s opener against China was a 94-61 blowout win, and Bueckers was on fire, dropping 14 points, dishing out four assists, and snagging two steals. She shot a super-efficient 6 of 9 from the field in her World Cup debut. Reese, meanwhile, brought the pure physical force. She put up five points, grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, and blocked one shot in just 16 minutes. She was out there battling a massive Chinese frontcourt, taking on 7-foot-3 Zhang Ziyu and 6-foot-8 Han Xu. Talk about showing the insane depth available to Coach Kara Lawson when players like that are coming off the bench.
That relaxed practice atmosphere got tested quick in their next game. Italy clawed back from an early deficit, holding the Americans to a brutal 29 percent shooting. Team USA had to fight down to the absolute wire for a tight 55-52 victory. Guess who stepped up again? Bueckers, tying for the game-high with 14 points. Her ability to create offense was absolutely essential on a day where almost every other American shooter was struggling. This team is gonna face even more pressure as they push deeper into the tournament, but for a few seconds there at practice, Reese and Bueckers were just teammates, settling a truly important argument about a rim. We love to see it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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