Iman Shumpert called out media overexaggeration of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s rivalry

​There is no bigger rivalry in women’s basketball today, or ever, than the one between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Since college, both have faced off and have been pitted against one another by the media.

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Their rivalry has taken tension-filled turns since they set foot in the WNBA, as the media has continued to push their “heated” rivalry above everything else. However, when the time came that both Clark and Reese were picked to suit up for Team USA at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the tension was seemingly nonexistent.

A basketball rivalry not seen so far in the WNBA

Clark and Reese looked comfortable as they played alongside one another and helped Team USA capture the gold medal at the FIBA World Cup for women. Despite years of the media and fans believing they hated one another, in reality, they were friends, or at least spiteful with one another.

For former NBA champion Iman Shumpert, Clark and Reese’s time playing together for Team USA only reinforced the notion that the media was exaggerating what is merely a competitive rivalry between the two.

“I think they’re (media) overhyping them having a beef. I think some of it is just basketball, but it’s basketball beef,” Shumpert

“Like when I play against her, I don’t like her. That’s fine. That’s, and we invite that. We love that.”

“To try and make it seem like they don’t like each other as people. I think that’s when the media just starts losing the plot,” he continued. “Like you’re f-g losing the plot. Both are f–g great human beings.”

Clark herself brushed off any drama or controversy between her and Reese after the World Cup final against France, when she said she and the Atlanta Dream star had always been friends.

More footage from their entire Team USA stint shows them being cordial and, at times, friendlier than many might assume. The media has definitely played its part in selling their rivalry as one rooted in hatred, but there is still some respect between them.

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After all, both have played against one another on the biggest occasions, especially in college. Clark’s Iowa and Reese’s LSU met many times, specifically in the 2023 NCAA championship game and again in the Elite Eight the next season.​

In the WNBA, their matchups were mostly heated but never became personal. Granted, there were moments like Reese’s taunts towards CC in college and her comments about the narrative around who the face of the W was, but there were never really any signs of vitriol.​

Their presence is good for basketball

Of course, the media have always pushed their rivalry to the forefront, regardless of what Clark and Reese really feel about one another. However, Shumpert explains that their rivalry is purely competitive, not personal, and simply reflects how extremely competitive the two stars really are.

“I think it’s underappreciated how good those players are. I think, finally, in that type of arena, you start seeing flashes of them just being competitors,” he said. “Like they’re wearing the same shirt. They’ll ride for each other like that.”

“Angel would have talked that s-t to somebody else and then clap Caitlyn’s hands if that’s what it went down, and I love that because it lets you know that they’re just true competitors,” Shumpert added.

Ultimately, the essence of Clark and Reese’s rivalry is competitiveness. Many have already compared them to the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson feud, which completely changed the NBA. If the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream meet in the Finals, just as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics did, their rivalry will undoubtedly reach new heights that will further elevate their respective brands, but also the WNBA’s growing popularity and appeal among the fans.

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This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 8:18 AM.