Can Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese play together on the Indiana Fever after what we've seen on the U.S. national team?
The two adversaries may become teammates when it comes to representing the United States.
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese spent years at the center of one of women’s basketball’s biggest rivalries, but their time together with Team USA offered a very different picture - and their chemistry has even sparked calls for the pair to share a WNBA court. One hypothetical scenario would see the Indiana Fever trade Aliyah Boston , the 2024 No. 1 overall pick, to acquire Reese but an expert made clear she does not expect such a move anytime soon.
“I don’t think that this is going to happen anytime soon,” Rachel DeMita said to the Courtside Club. “Caitlin and Angel actually playing on the same team, like maybe later on in their career. “And maybe that’s something that we have to look forward to. Whether you’re a huge fan of Angel or a huge fan of Caitlin or you hate the other, you have to admit. There was really something special that they had on the court.” DeMita believes fans may have to wait before seeing Clark and Reese together at the WNBA level but admits their Team USA partnership showed why the idea is so appealing. Clark recorded 32 assists across six FIBA World Cup games, with seven finding Reese and their familiarity appeared to translate naturally onto the court. “Their chemistry was so good,” DeMita added. “Their court awareness of one another… “It’s like they somehow, and maybe it’s because they’ve studied each other’s game, they knew where each other was.”
The dream pairing would also have to account for what the Fever already have in Boston as their current pair have developed an effective pick-and-roll partnership, while Clark ’s shooting threat regularly creates room around the basket. The pair also made WNBA history by becoming the first teammates to each record a 30-point double-double in the same game and that production helps explain why replacing Boston with Reese is far more complicated than fans dream. Simply reuniting two familiar stars is appealing but the Fever are 26-14 and enjoying good chemistry as they lead the Eastern Conference , but Clark and Reese nevertheless appeared to grow closer throughout Team USA ’s FIBA World Cup run. They were seen sitting together during the final round, laughing and bonding as their old college rivalry gave way to a new partnership and After Team USA defeated France for the gold medal, Clark even said she and Reese had always been friends.
Clark dips out of WNBA Top 3 rankings
Meanwhile Clark ’s individual standing remains another storyline heading into the WNBA Playoffs as she continues to develop into the all-conquering star she was tipped to become from college. Despite helping Indiana produce the most prolific offense in league history during a spectacular second half, she placed fifth in Bleacher Report ’s updated Top 25 WNBA rankings. A’ja Wilson topped that list, followed by Olivia Miles , Breanna Stewart and Clark ’s Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell but the star herself appeared as low as fifth, missing out on the top four entirely. That is despite Clark averaging 22.5 points, 8.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 45.6 percent from the field as her impact extends beyond the box score. Her range and passing forcing defenses to react far beyond the arc. Her improved pull-up shooting and floater have also added new dimensions to an already difficult matchup as the Fever prepare for the postseason.
