Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have a history. The former left the latter hanging with an during a dominant victory for Team USA during the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament.
Was it on purpose?
I don’t think so! But that doesn’t make it any less awkward for the two biggest names in the WNBA.
Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark go way back.
The rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese dates back to the national championship game in 2023 when Reese (in)famously taunted Clark with the John Cena ‘You Can’t See Me’ hand wave gesture. It sparked a loud and lengthy discourse surrounding the behavior. It sparked a beef between them.
The rivalry is mostly one-sided in terms of how it plays out in public.
Clark mostly keeps to herself. She does not address Reese unless she is asked to. And when she is asked to, she remains amicable. Often short, but cordial nonetheless.
The same cannot be said for Reese. Reese often takes aim at Clark — and her fans. She has repeatedly claimed they are racist and fueled the unnecessary race war with a nasty post on TikTok. She also takes jabs at Clark behind her back on social media. Her “inner circle” supposedly told Robert Griffin III that she “hates” Clark.
And then there is the on-court behavior.
Clark committed a hard foul on Reese last season, which led to a heated altercation. Clark later threw shade at Reese and laughed off the performative behavior of her opponent.
This was not the only incident. You get the idea.
These two can try to say there is not a rivalry between them but the proof is in the pudding. Reese even said that she will accept the villain role for the betterment of women’s basketball. Whatever that means.
Was the handshake snub intentional?
Although Clark and Reese do not like each other when they are playing against one another, they are teammates on Team USA. It requires them to get along and work together.
CAITLIN TO ANGEL FOR TWO pic.twitter.com/1p5gHGWlMw
— correlation (@nosyone4) March 11, 2026
The United States defeated Puerto Rico by a final score of 91-48 at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament earlier this week.
Reese finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds, the only double-double of the game. Her 13 boards also set a new United States record for rebounds during a Women’s World Cup Qualifying game. Clark added eight points in the win, just one day after she dropped a team-high 17 points against Senegal.
The biggest storyline, however, was the handshake snub heard around the world.
Caitlin Clark checked into the game during the second quarter. Angel Reese stuck out her hand for a high-five. Clark did not reciprocate the gesture. Reese got left hanging.
Caitlin Clark does NOT like Angel Reese 👀 pic.twitter.com/BaNnYJD8Wt
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) March 13, 2026
Certain people are going to make this a lot bigger deal than it needs to be. Yes, it was super awkward.
It is always embarrassing when an athlete gets left hanging by one of his or her teammates and/or opponents. It is worthy of a good chuckle.
With that being said, I do not think Clark intentionally snubbed Reese because she doesn’t like her. I just don’t think she saw her. But we will never know the truth! And that adds more fuel to the rivalrly.