Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers are two of the biggest names in Team USA's training camp in preparation for next year's FIBA World Cup. Amid fans pitting Clark and Bueckers against each other, let's look at their relationship and see if they are rivals or friends. One of the biggest headlines from training camp is how competitive Clark and Bueckers were during scrimmage. They even defended each other at times, which fans saw as a rivalry for who is the biggest star in women's basketball. However, one fan pulled out receipts from four years ago when the Dallas Wings star called Clark her "idol."It's not impossible to think that Paige Bueckers saw Caitlin Clark as her idol back in 2021. Bueckers could look up to Clark because of how she plays the game differently than her, especially with her shooting prowess.However, it should be pointed out that Bueckers and Clark were part of the same high school class a year earlier. They also teamed up for Team USA, winning two gold medals as part of the U-17 and U-19 squads in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Caitlin Clark says she's friends with Paige BueckersSpeaking to reporters back in July before the Indiana Fever took on the Dallas Wings, Caitlin Clark opened up about her relationship with Paige Bueckers. Clark called Bueckers her friend, and she's a big fan of her game. "I mean, we’ve always been friends," Clark said, according to Sports Illustrated. "I wouldn’t say we’re best friends and talk all the time. ... I’ve always been a fan of hers and always been supportive. And I watch as much as I can, just because I love basketball and I love people that compete, and make their team better. And that's what she has always been able to do."Clark added that she loves Bueckers' confidence and her competitive nature that comes out every game. Paige Bueckers comments on Caitlin Clark before NCAA matchup in 2024In an interview with CT Insider back in April 2024, Paige Bueckers was asked about her matchup with Caitlin Clark in the NCAA tournament. Bueckers had nothing but respect for Clark, calling her the greatest scorer in college basketball history."She's just a competitor," Bueckers said. "She wants to win. She has just intangibles of the game. She knows how to play, a great IQ. I think the biggest thing about her is she competes and she's just a winner. She wants to win at all costs."Despite fans wanting to see Clark and Paige as rivals, they are friends and have mutual respect for each other. They represent the new generation of players who will take the WNBA to bigger heights.