Stewie stays an international standard. Plus: Clark and Reese, teammates *and* friends

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Good morning! The Americans are the world champions again. Coming today:

Also: send any questions you have about the rest of the season or the playoffs to our address mailbag.

Golden: Stewart’s greatness continues

After the USA silenced the doubters convincingly downed France in the gold medal game at the FIBA ​​World Cup, coach Kara Lawson praised her team captain and tournament MVP Breanna Stewart, saying, “She is USA Basketball…when you think about the last 15 years, that’s Stewie, and we’re really lucky to be a part of her era in this group.”

The current era of the WNBA is defined by the rivalry between Stewart and A’ja Wilson, who I (Sabreena) profiled three years agoand since then it has only been more decorated. While Wilson has taken the lead in the WNBA with the last two MVP trophies and two of the last three titles, it somewhat dwarfs all that Stewart has accomplished, at home and abroad.

We’re talking about a player who is undefeated in the NCAA Tournament, the World Championships and the Olympics. Stewart has four collegiate titles, four World Cup gold medals and will be chasing her fourth Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 2028. On top of that, she added three EuroLeague titles and an unparalleled championship after co-founding the 3×3 league.

Wherever Stewart goes, she wins. She is an addict to that.

At the World Cup, Stewart had a new opportunity to show the younger generation of players what it takes to win on the international stage. She no longer had to defer to veterans like Sue Bird or Diana Taurasi or even share the spotlight with Wilson.

Team USA was Stewart’s team, and she was everything he was supposed to lead the Americans to victory.

Stewart began her professional career as a small forward and started out as a center for Team USA. As the finals rolled around and Lawson shortened her rotation, Stewart played point guard for a long time. She led the team in points and rebounds and was an emotional stabilizing force in the medal round.

We’ve seen one of the biggest winners in sports history since 2013, when Stewart won her first championship at UConn; if you include Commissioner’s Cup titles, she takes home 1.5 team trophies a year.

The WNBA has seen a massive infusion of talent over the past three years. Stewart still sets the standard for every player who steps on the field and pulls on a USA jersey.

Now to Annie to get to know the relationship between the two younger players.

Friend or Foe? ‘We’ve always been friends’

We’ve all heard it by now question own it Caitlin Clark just after his first gold medal at the World Cup. Not the one about her 12 points and three assists to help the USA win gold over France, or the other about her first major tournament with the national team. No. I’m talking about the one about her friendship Angel Reese.

First, we have to give it to Clark for pulling off a cheap trick to set social media on fire like a pro.

“Are you (and Reese) friends now?”

Clark: “We’ve always been friends. Don’t try to do that.”

It was a nonsensical answer to a nonsensical question. And the finger wagging that accompanied it was the icing on the cake. But the real question is: Why do people care that Clark and Reese are friends? Actually, do we buy that they really are?

Something that still plagues women’s sports is the public’s discomfort with genuine competition among women and everything that comes with it, including *GASP* when there is a visible division between players. For Clark and Reese, it goes back to their college days when Reese dared to stand in front of the Iowa star as her LSU Tigers were moments away from winning their first NCAA title. A story began that merged the careers of two players, with one playing the villain and the other playing the hero.

Since they entered the WNBA in 2024, the story has only gotten more interesting. First, because they were drafted by franchises less than 200 miles apart with established rivalries (Clark to Indiana, Reese to Chicago). Now, because they’re down to two title contenders with a real shot at a first-round matchup (more on that below).

The chemistry between Clark and Reese during the USA’s World Cup run was something to behold. Between their pick-and-roll actions and Reese’s switch to Clark in transition, the basketball these two played was beautiful. But the reality is that they don’t have to be friends for that to happen.

I keep thinking about Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert in this situation, and if a reporter would ask either of them the same question. I know there are many differences between the two. Green actually put Gobert in the head. These two are representative enemies, not teammates. But still, would that question ever be asked of Green or Gobert?

Contestants do not have to be friends. Women, in this case the ones in the WNBA, don’t have to like each other to do their jobs well.

Olympics: Looking to LA 2028

It’s never too early to start thinking about Team USA’s 2028 Olympic roster — you can bet US Women’s National Team CEO Sue Bird is already leaving through combinationslooking at how many players who haven’t been to Berlin deserve consideration.

A’ja Wilson is a lock, Kelsey Plum was a staple for Team USA (as well as Sabrina Ionescu) and a new generation of stars, including Olivia Miles, JuJu Watkins, Sarah Strong and Hannah Hidalgo (not to mention young veterans like Veronica Burton and Cameron Brink) could use it.

Strong, a junior forward at UConn, is of particular interest. She is a three-time gold medalist in the 3×3 at the youth level for Team USA, but could switch national teams before the senior competition.

As Chantel Jennings writes, Team USA helped raise the bar for international competition. Now, he must stay ahead.

Which player do you think is the most likely to be a new addition to the Olympic Games roster? Let us know at NoOffseason@theathletic.com.

Fast Breaks

💼 “Despite all the drama and complaints about her management style, Engelbert didn’t let the players down. However, she never caught up with them.” More on how The WNBA has outgrown the job Cathy Engelbert hired.

🏀 The NCAA granted Kate Koval a transfer waiver, allowing the center to leave LSU and join Baylor. Koval, who was born and raised in Ukraine, recently said in an Instagram post that she was leaving the LSU program because he signed a contract with a Russian player. “For me, this war is not distant or abstract,” she said.

💭 Hall of Famer Tamika Catchings Word of the Year? “On purpose.” This helps her stay grounded and focused.

❓ Reminder: Submit your questions into our mailbag!

Playoff projections: What to know when the WNBA resumes

WNBA games resume on Thursday, ace each team completes a four-game sprint before the postseason. As a reminder, the field for the playoffs is fixed, but the seeding order is up in the air. Ours playoff bracket projection (pictured above) is updated after each matchup with the odds of each team finishing in each playoff seed.

Based on projections, there could still be plenty of movement in the top eight, but here’s how we see it playing out:

• no. 1 seed: The magic number is two for Minnesota to get the No. 1 seed over Golden State. That means a total of two Lynx wins and a Valkyries loss. It seems easy enough, but Minnesota still has three games against New York and Indiana, while Golden State ends the year with a four-game sweep.
• no. 3 seeds: This is Las Vegas for the taking. The Aces can probably even afford some rest for Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young after their World Cup.
• no. 4/5 seeds: This game will likely be between Indiana and Atlanta, but home field advantage is up in the air. The Fever have a tougher schedule, with three games against Washington and Minnesota. However, if the Lynx clinch the No. 1 seed early enough, then the Dream’s schedule — with two games against New York — could prove more problematic.
• no. 6/7/8 seeds: Dallas has the clearest path to the No. 6 seed, but now has to deal with potential injury concerns for Paige Bueckers and Alanna Smith, in addition to Azzi Fudd being out for the season. This could allow the Mystics or Freedom to sneak up on the Wings.

If you’re interested in the lottery standings, the final regular-season game between Toronto and Connecticut could be a real frenzy as the teams “vie” for the best chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft.

Employment: Next Commissioner

Last week we asked you who should be the next commissioner. Many of you would like to see Swin Cash in the role, while others suggested mrs. Ogwumike. There was one call for Michelle Obama and the other for Nick Saban. Neither Obama nor Saban are realistic propositions, but hey, we appreciate the answers!

One name that stood out among readers’ recommendations was Allison Feaster. A former WNBA player, Feaster is now the vice president of team operations and organizational growth for the Boston Celtics. Prior to this role, Feaster rose through the ranks in the NBA, starting with managerial roles in the G League.

Feaster has an impeccable reputation in NBA circles, has a business background and is a former player. I think the league might end up favoring someone with a law degree, which Feaster doesn’t have, but her resume certainly deserves consideration.

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