Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark appear to leave any beef behind at the World Cup
Whatever tension existed between the two appears to be taking a back seat as Team USA chases gold
When Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers were called up to represent the United States at the Basketball World Cup, many fans immediately went back to a moment when the two had a heated exchange during the Indiana Fever’s game against the Dallas Wings . Clark lost her temper during the moment, while Bueckers appeared to tell her to calm down.
Clark was not entering the tournament without previous tension . She already has a rivalry with Angel Reese, one of the players she has been most closely linked to because of the competition created by fans. Now, she also had an awkward moment in her history with Bueckers , who happens to be one of Reese’s closest friends on Team USA.
But their history has not stopped them from finding common ground
Those kinds of tensions can be difficult to ignore when young players, who could also be described as still maturing, have the responsibility of representing their country in such an important tournament . However, one moment showed that Clark and Bueckers are on the same page , working together toward the same goal: winning gold.
The two players also share similar paths to the WNBA. Both were selected first overall in their respective draft classes, and both went on to win WNBA Rookie of the Year honors. They have plenty in common, making it hard to imagine them carrying any real animosity toward each other, and seeing them work together has been a relief for fans.
The fans already have a name for the duo: Caige
Ahead of their game of the tournament, the two playmakers shared a fun exchange on the court . They were seen warming up and going through pregame drills while laughing together in front of the scorer’s table. Fans have even combined Caitlin and Paige’s names to create “Caige.” For now, they certainly look like a dynamic duo.
The team will have to keep working hard as the competition threatens to become even more challenging . Team USA has already booked its spot in the quarterfinals after winning its first two games, but the road to gold is only getting tougher.
