The claim that Angel Reese issued an ultimatum to Team USA, stating she would leave if Caitlin Clark joins, appears in several web sources dated between February and March 2025, but there is no credible evidence to support its authenticity as of 02:55 PM +07 on May 21, 2025. The narrative originates from unverified sites like luxury.amazingtoday.net, readtime.online, and cnsfreshnews.info, which lack official statements from Reese, Clark, Team USA, or the WNBA. These sources repeat a similar storyline—Reese threatening to quit, Coach Cheryl Reeve responding with a focus on team unity, and Clark remaining silent—without providing primary evidence such as interviews, press releases, or social media posts directly from the players or officials. This suggests the story may be fabricated or exaggerated, possibly for clickbait, as no major sports outlets like ESPN, The Athletic, or Reuters have corroborated it.
The context of the Reese-Clark rivalry, however, is real and well-documented. Their competition dates back to the 2023 NCAA championship, where Reese’s LSU defeated Clark’s Iowa, sparking debates over sportsmanship due to Reese’s on-court gestures. Both have since excelled in the WNBA—Clark as the 2024 Rookie of the Year with the Indiana Fever and Reese setting rebounding records with the Chicago Sky—fueling a rivalry that drives league viewership. Web reports from ESPN and SI note their collaboration in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, where they played together against Team USA, suggesting a professional ability to coexist despite tensions. This undermines the plausibility of Reese issuing such an ultimatum, especially given her expressed interest in future Team USA opportunities, as noted by her coach Teresa Weatherspoon in a June 2024 Daily Mail article.
Cheryl Reeve’s supposed response—“We don’t build this team on personal feelings or egos”—mirrors her known coaching style, seen in her dismissal of Olympic roster questions about Clark in July 2024 (ESPN, SI). However, there’s no record of her addressing this specific Reese ultimatum in official channels. Reeve’s past decisions, like excluding Clark from the 2024 Olympic team, have drawn criticism, but her focus remains on performance, not personal drama. Clark’s silence aligns with her pattern of avoiding controversy, as seen in her composed reactions to past incidents (e.g., the May 2025 foul investigation with Reese, per CNN).
The timing of the alleged ultimatum—tied to an “international tournament looming”—is vague. The 2024 Paris Olympics have passed, and the next major event, the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, is not imminent, with Team USA’s roster still unconfirmed. This lack of specificity further questions the story’s validity. Social media sentiment, while inconclusive, shows fans debating Reese and Clark’s Team USA prospects, but no trending hashtags like those mentioned (e.g., from the article) are currently dominant on X as of today.
Experts like Lisa Leslie, quoted in the narrative, have not publicly commented on this specific event, though her past remarks on unity (e.g., via ESPN) align with the sentiment. The idea of cutting a star to resolve conflict is speculative, with no insider confirmation from credible sources. Given the lack of evidence and the reliance on unverified websites, this appears to be a sensationalized fabrication rather than a factual breaking news event. The basketball world continues to watch Reese and Clark’s on-court rivalry, but any off-court ultimatum remains unproven and should be treated with skepticism.
