Last year, Engelbert let Clark knew she won the award by giving her a phone call at the end of a Fever practice. <\/p>\n
![\"WNBA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/01k5a63v2embtxn8qtr4.jpg\" "\\"WNBA")
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WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks to volunteers gathered Thursday, July 17, 2025, as part of the WNBA\u2019s Changemaker Day held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The community service initiative is hosted by the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee, Project Period Indy and Indy Hygiene Hub. | Mykal McEldowney\/IndyStar \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Caitlin Clark Fans Irked Over Difference in Paige Bueckers Rookie Award Treatment<\/p>\n
The disparity between how Clark and Bueckers received this news from Engelbert has many Clark fans feeling upset on social media Tuesday. <\/p>\n
“WNBA commish Cathy Englebert with two vastly different ways to announce the ROY winner,” one X user wrote, along with a screenshot of Bueckers getting the trophy from Engelbert and former Fever coach Christie Sides holding a photo up, which was when Clark was informed about winning the award last year. <\/p>\n
WNBA commish Cathy Englebert with two vastly different ways to announce the ROY winner pic.twitter.com\/XlPtjGywOW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Heavens! (@HeavensFX) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Another X user posted a video of both moments with the caption, “The WNBA commissioner decided to put in a little more effort on this year’s Rookie of the Year announcement”. <\/p>\n The WNBA commissioner decided to put in a little more effort on this year’s Rookie of the Year announcement \ud83d\ude05 pic.twitter.com\/OEmDQUfukl<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Clark Report (@CClarkReport) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Basketball media analyst Rachel DeMite made an X post that read, “Cathy didn’t even FaceTime Caitlin last year.. just a team call on speaker wow”. <\/p>\n Cathy didn’t even FaceTime Caitlin last year.. just a team call on speaker wow \ud83d\ude2d<\/p>\n \u2014 Rachel A DeMita (@RADeMita) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n And many other fans have expressed their frustration over this. <\/p>\n This is how u announce rookie of the year . Caitlin Clark got her roy announcement on a phone call last season .Has a league ever treated their biggest star worse than Caitlin Clark got treated ? \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8 https:\/\/t.co\/nFN2eH5BNb<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Michael (@mikeaalen112735) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n I knew Cathy was gonna fly out for Paige \ud83d\ude02 who got that CC video? https:\/\/t.co\/hg1H0b6QB7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Room (@District22FC) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Another fan noted an important distinction between last year and this year: Clark was preparing for the WNBA playoffs when she won the award, while Bueckers’ season is already over with the Wings. But didn’t ease the fan’s frustration.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t care if they were in the playoffs or not\u2026nasty business how they handled this last year. https:\/\/t.co\/bcx1oloHFV<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Paulene (@PF_MTNative) September 16, 2025<\/a>Fans Notice Difference in WNBA Rookie of the Year Shirts<\/p>\n It wasn’t just Engelbert giving Bueckers the Rookie of the Year trophy in person that angered people. One X user posted a video of Nike Basketball’s 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year t-shirt (which said exactly that) compared to a much cooler and customized version this year for Bueckers. <\/p>\n @nikebasketball<\/a> @WNBA<\/a> I will never forget. pic.twitter.com\/shOKpFFX9w<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jenny O (@jortizie93) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Clark’s fans are also frustrated about this, with one writing, “Yeah. This isn\u2019t ok. Last year this idea of not giving Caitlin too much shine was insane and highly disappointing. This is not a knock on Paige.” <\/p>\n Yeah. This isn\u2019t ok. Last year this idea of not giving Caitlin too much shine was insane and highly disappointing. This is not a knock on Paige. https:\/\/t.co\/NrjTnfdxKI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ken Swift (@kenswift) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n that really is nasty work tho<\/p>\n \u2014 Mo (@crybabyrcc) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Whoever brought CC’s ROTY’s shirt from Nike are idiots! I need my $’s worth, I need effort, and Respect for the athlete.<\/p>\n \u2014 Honey (@FlowerlySuki) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Again, some context is important, because the back of Clark’s Nike Basketball ROTY shirt included some of her record-breaking stats from her rookie season on the back, which was actually quite cool.<\/p>\n pic.twitter.com\/BUbwtDgugx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Props bet (@props1720) September 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n But fans are still within their rights to feel frustrated about this disparity.<\/p>\n Recommended Reading: