Full Breakdown
Angel Reese Sets WNBA Double-Double Record After Gold-Medal Run
By Drooid · · How we work
Record-Breaking Return
In the Atlanta Dream’s 103–59 victory over the Connecticut Sun, Angel Reese posted a career-high 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting, added 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. The performance gave her a 30th double-double of the season, making her the first player in WNBA history to reach that mark in a single campaign. The win moved Atlanta to 27-14, clinching a playoff berth with three games remaining.
World Cup Impact
Reese returned from the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, where Team USA captured its fifth consecutive gold medal in Berlin. She averaged 15 minutes per game, posting 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.8 blocks (team-leading) and 1.2 steals, and led the squad with a 59.1 % field-goal percentage. A late-half defensive stop against France’s Pauline Astier sparked a momentum shift that helped the United States pull ahead before halftime.
Background & Context
Reese was acquired by Atlanta in a blockbuster offseason trade after two seasons with the Chicago Sky. The move gave her a larger role and positioned her alongside fellow rising star Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever—players whose college rivalry (LSU vs. Iowa) has long fueled media narratives. Their joint appearance on Team USA offered a rare glimpse of the two competing as teammates.
Data & Statistics
- 30 double-doubles (WNBA record)
- Season averages: 16.1 points, 12.4 rebounds per game
- World Cup averages: 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, 1.2 steals, 59.1 % FG
- Dream record after game: 27-14, first-place in Eastern Conference
Official Statements & Responses
Reese described the World Cup experience as a “big win” for her personal growth and highlighted the camaraderie with Clark, saying the two “rely on each other” and “learn from each other” during the tournament. When asked whether she and Clark were friends after the gold-medal win, Caitlin Clark responded emphatically, “We’ve always been friends. Don’t try to do that. Don’t try to do that,” in a mixed-zone interview.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We've always been friends. Don't try to do that. Don't try to do that,” — Caitlin Clark, reporter
- “I can understand Caitlin Clark not wanting to discuss her relationship with Angel Reese after winning gold in the FIBA World Cup, but it’s clearly a lie that they’ve ‘always been friends’,” — Jon Root, not outkick reporter
- “She comes into the game, and she plays with great energy,” — Kara Lawson, coach
- “Me and Caitlin Clark don’t hate each other,” — Angel Reese
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
A fan-run X account circulated an AI-generated image purporting that Clark and Reese shared a European lunch after the final. The post was later debunked as fabricated, and no official source confirmed any such meeting. The claim remains an unverified rumor.
What’s Next
The Dream will host the Chicago Sky later this month, with the WNBA regular season resuming shortly thereafter, positioning both the Dream and the Fever for potential playoff matchups that could reignite the Clark-Reese rivalry on the court.