Rivalry Heats Up Between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese

A new chapter has emerged in the ongoing rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Recently, a video surfaced showing Clark disregarding Reese’s attempt at a high-five during a FIBA World Cup qualifying match. In the clip, as Reese extended her hand to her Team USA teammates, Clark appeared to walk away, which has captured a lot of attention online.

The game saw the United States claim a decisive victory over Puerto Rico, ending with a score of 91-48.

This situation appears to reignite tensions that many believe began during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. During that match, Reese made waves by gesturing with her ring finger—an act that angered many fans and seemed to fuel a feud.

In a later encounter, Clark’s team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, faced Reese’s LSU Tigers in the Elite Eight, where they gained a measure of revenge. However, things escalated further as both players turned professional and entered the WNBA.

During her first season in the WNBA with the Fever, Clark experienced several controversial fouls from Reese’s team, particularly one on June 16. The atmosphere heated up in 2025 when Reese was involved in a heated exchange, pushing teammate Natasha Howard. In a sequence where Clark was attempting to score, chaos ensued. Reese fell to the ground and hit Clark in the face. The officials later upgraded Clark’s foul to an aggravated one amidst the commotion, resulting in technical fouls for both Reese and her teammate Aliyah Boston.

Clark later commented that there was nothing malicious about the incident, framing it as a regular foul. Even though both athletes are now teammates on the U.S. national team, aiming for FIBA World Cup qualification, there’s an unmistakable aura of awkwardness lingering in the air.