Bueckers and Reese's early synergy on the court hints at a powerful future for Team USA, sparking excitement beyond dominant wins.
The debut of several rising stars highlighted Team USA’s dominant start to the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament, but one early storyline stood out beyond the final score, and that has to be the emerging chemistry between Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.
Team USA opened the tournament with a commanding 110–46 victory over Senegal, a performance that showcased both veteran leadership and the promise of the next generation. Among those making their senior national team debuts were Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Reese, Rae Burrell, and KiKi Iriafen.
While Clark grabbed headlines with 17 points and 12 assists in just 19 minutes, the contributions from Bueckers and the Chi Barbie offered a glimpse of how the younger core could eventually shape the program.
The Dallas Wings star finished with nine points, four rebounds, and three assists in about 14 minutes, while Reese recorded six points and a team-high eight rebounds. More importantly, the two displayed strong on-court communication and awareness, showing flashes of chemistry in their first competitive game together wearing the USA jersey.
For players who graduated high school in the same class of 2020 but took very different paths through college and the WNBA, the opportunity to finally share the court has been a unique experience.
Before the tournament began, the LSU alum acknowledged how rare the moment felt.
“Our young core has been really great,” she said. “And we haven’t been able to play with each other ever.”
Wednesday’s game provided that first real chance. Even in limited minutes, Bueckers and Reese showed a natural understanding of spacing and timing, particularly during transition possessions where PB’s playmaking instincts paired well with Reese’s energy on the glass.
The matchup itself quickly turned into a lopsided affair. Team USA seized control early and never looked back, building a 59–19 halftime lead and overwhelming Senegal with its depth and pace. The Americans shot efficiently throughout the game and saw scoring contributions from every player who stepped on the floor.
Rhyne Howard led all scorers with 21 points, including a scorching second quarter in which she alone outscored Senegal.
But beyond the individual performances, the biggest takeaway was how comfortably the new faces blended into a roster filled with experienced stars. Veterans such as Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, and Kahleah Copper helped stabilize the rotation while the younger players gained valuable minutes.
For Bueckers and Reese, the tournament offers more than just international experience. It’s an opportunity to build relationships and develop chemistry that could define Team USA’s future.
The United States has already secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, but the games in San Juan, Puerto Rico provide a crucial platform for evaluating lineups and combinations ahead of the global tournament later this year.
If Wednesday’s opener was any indication, the emerging partnership between Bueckers and Reese could become an exciting piece of that puzzle as the next generation begins carving out its role within the national team.