BERLIN -- Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark's interactions are a subplot of the women's FIBA World Cup, the WNBA season and, if you spend enough time on social media, a divided country. Clark and Reese continue to insist their relationship on the court is fine. Both are intense competitors, and their fan bases are fiercely loyal. The pair have bonded in the World Cup in their national team debuts.

Clark said many stories about their relationship are "false takes," saying she loves the fiery competitiveness they share. "No matter what, there's always going to be people that create those narratives," Clark said. "It's easy for us to just come in here and compete." Reese has enjoyed playing with Clark and other young roster members, including Paige Bueckers and Aliyah Boston. "We can kind of rely on each other, lean on each other," Reese said. "It's fun."

Clark and Reese played together on the 2024 WNBA All-Star team that beat the U.S. Olympic team, but they will forever be joined after their clash in the 2023 NCAA title game. Reese's LSU squad topped Clark's Iowa team, but the players' actions drew attention. Clark appreciates Reese's desire to win. "It's been fun to play with her," she said.

They'll be back on opposite sides soon: Reese's Atlanta Dream and Clark's Indiana Fever are both headed for the WNBA playoffs with 26-14 records. They could meet in the first round. For now, they share a common goal. The duo could be part of a core group expected to be teammates in the next several Olympics.