BERLIN (AP) — 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 players are intense and animated competitors, and their fan bases' are fiercely loyal. On much of social media you're either for Reese or for Clark. It has that feel of rooting for Duke or Carolina; Yankees or Red Sox or Bird or Magic.
The pair have definitely bonded so far in the World Cup in their national team debuts. Clark said many of the stories about their relationship are “false takes,” saying she loves the fiery competitiveness that she and Reese share.
“No matter what, there’s always going to be people that create those narratives and say whatever they want to say,” Clark said. “There’s definitely no stopping that and they’re always going to be there. I think for ourselves, like I said, it’s easy for us to just come in here and compete.”
Reese has enjoyed playing with Clark and the other young members of the roster, including Paige Bueckers and Aliyah Boston.
“We can kind of rely on each other, lean on each other,” Reese said. “This is our first big national event, so being able to play with each other, learn each other and go through these learning process together, it’s fun.”
Clark and Reese have played together on the 2024 WNBA All-Star team that beat the U.S. Olympic team, but they will forever be joined at hips after their clash in the 2023 NCAA title game catapulted them into the center of debates.
Reese’s LSU squad topped Clark’s Iowa team in the matchup, but the players actions and interactions (who can forget Reese pointing to her ring finger in the closing seconds), drew attention to them.
Clark said she appreciates Reese’s desire to win and her relentlessness on the court, saying “it’s been fun to to be able to play with her.”
Clark laughed recalling one incident in the tournament between she and Reese that has gotten some attention. When Clark was subbing in during the opener against China and started to step on the court before being officially told to, Reese, who was entering the game at the same time, pulled her back off the court.
“Well, the ref had gotten mad at me a couple of times prior, so she was saving me from the ref getting mad at me again,” Clark said laughing.
In another fun moment, Reese was talking to the media after the tight win over Italy and Clark ducked past her, apologizing for interrupting her interviews. Reese smiled and gave Clark a high-five as she went by.
They'll be back on opposite sides soon enough — Reese's Atlanta Dream and Clark's Indiana Fever are both headed for the WNBA playoffs and both have 26-14 records. They could meet in the first round if the current seeds hold.
But for now, they share a common goal and the fact that Reese and Clark say they are having fun on the court together is good news for U.S. women's basketball fans. The duo could be part of a core group of players expected to be teammates in the next several Olympics.
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Czechia's Petra Holesinska guards Caitlin Clark, of the United States, during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the United States and Czechia in Berlin, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Italy's Sara Madera guards Angel Reese, of the United States, during the Women's Basketball World Cup match between the United States and Italy in Berlin, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
SEATTLE (AP) — Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a hip injury that knocked him out of Seattle's season opener against the New England Patriots on Wednesday night, a potentially significant blow to the Super Bowl champions' title defense.
Coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold didn't break any bones while adding that more tests were needed.
Darnold was sacked on Seattle's first series by Dre'Mont Jones, and the quarterback's right leg appeared to take the brunt of the impact as Jones drove him to the turf. Darnold limped off the field, was examined in the sideline medical tent and then limped to the locker room.
The Seahawks initially said Darnold was questionable, then announced before halftime that he would not return. Backup Drew Lock replaced him and went 16 of 22 for 187 yards and a touchdown as the Seahawks rallied for a 13-10 victory.
“At this point we were able to rule out a fracture,” Macdonald said, calling the initial diagnosis “positive.”
Darnold's injury was a deflating early moment for Seattle in the rematch of last season's Super Bowl, in which the Seahawks beat the Patriots 29-13.
Darnold, 29, did not miss a game last season as he led the Seahawks to the title. He threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the regular season as Seattle won a franchise-record 14 games.
It was his first season with the Seahawks after reviving his career with the Vikings in 2024, when he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Drafted third overall in the 2018 draft out of Southern California by the New York Jets, Darnold had a 13-25 record and a 78.6 passer rating over his initial three seasons for the Jets. He also played for the Carolina Panthers and was the backup to Brock Purdy in San Francisco.
Darnold was 1 of 2 for 13 yards against New England before he left.
Lock was shaky at the start but with Seattle down 10-3 in the fourth quarter, he hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba on fourth-and-1, and the star receiver dashed to the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown.
“It’s tough losing (Darnold). I mean, he’s the head of the snake, but we have each other’s backs,” Smith-Njigba said. “We fully trust in Drew Lock to come in and do his thing, done it time and time again. So we just have to have each other’s backs.”
Lock, 29, has spent two stints with the Seahawks. He was with Seattle from 2022-23, then spent a season with the New York Giants before returning last year.
He played only in mop-up duty last season, completing two passes for 15 yards in five games.
Lock, a second-round pick out of Missouri by the Broncos, started for Denver in 2020, throwing for 2,933 yards with 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, (14) is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre'mont Jones, behind, during the first half an NFL football game, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, down center, is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre'mont Jones, behind, as New England Patriots linebacker Elijah Ponder (91), linebacker Robert Spillane (14), linebacker Christian Elliss (53), and defensive tackle Milton Williams (97) look on during the first half an NFL football game , Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold throws a pass during warmups before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold turns with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, center, is sacked by New England Patriots linebacker Dre'mont Jones, left, as Seattle Seahawks linebacker Connor O'Toole is at right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
