Caitlin Clark had just won a gold medal at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany, but she was not happy.
A reporter went viral on social media for asking Clark about her relationship with USA teammate Angel Reese, immediately after the final game. Clark and Reese have a long, documented rivalry, dating back to their time in college. Clark starred for Iowa, while Reese won a national championship at LSU. They faced off in the NCAA Tournament multiple times.
They teamed up for Team USA at the FIBA Women’s World Cup, winning a gold medal together.
“Are you and Angel friends now?” the reporter asked.
Clark was not happy with the question, publicly scolding the reporter for asking it.
“We’ve always been friends. Don’t try to do that! Don’t try to do that,” Clark responded while wagging her finger.
While everyone talked about Clark’s response, few talked about the reporter who was asking the question.
The reporter has since been identified.
Reporter who asked Clark the question works for Fox News
The reporter has been identified as Fox News Digital’s sports reporter Jackson Thompson.
Thompson was reportedly sent by Outkick to cover the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany.
“It turns out that question wasn’t the only one Jackson asked that left his fellow reporters scratching their heads. Emmet Ryan, editor of BallinEurope, told Mediaite there were other disingenuous exchanges between Jackson and Paige Bueckers, as well as with head coach Kara Lawson,” Mediate reported.
“Ryan, who has covered FIBA since 2013 and is based in Ireland, is the editor of BallinEurope. The site is about to celebrate its 20th birthday and has deep roots in women’s basketball. He shot video of Thompson’s question to Clark, as well as others.”
The presence was rare, other reporters claim.
“To be honest, at most of the events I’ve gone to, international ones just to be clear, anglophones are few and far between,” he said. “You get a few from the odd US website. Back in the 2014 World Cup, there was a decent haul from the US. You don’t see that many Americans reporters in general, not just Fox News, just to be clear. I can’t recall ever seeing a Fox News person at a basketball event, or a Fox reporter just period at a basketball event in Europe, or internationally, for that matter.”
It’s a new normal in sports media, though.
