It appears ESPN has taken a side in the ongoing Caitlin Clarks versus Paige Bueckers debate: the sports outlet has officially ranked Clark as the top talent under 25 in the league.
But the race to number one is still close, and Bueckers is just behind her at the second spot.
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Though last year’s season was dominated by discourse that Clark against Angel Reese, Bueckers has always made more sense as a rival for the Fever star. The pair play the same role on their teams and have regularly encountered one another throughout their careers. In fact, UConn coach Geno Auriemma famously did not recruit Clark because he already had Bueckers, who would have been in the 2024 WNBA Draft if she had not torn her ACL and opted for a fifth year at college, on his roster.
ESPN noted that Clark has missed plenty of games this season due to ongoing injuries, but quickly pointed out: “Clark’s impact is enormous: She stretches the floor with her shooting range, pushes the pace and picks defenses apart with her passing.” On top of that, Clark “is the biggest draw on the road of any WNBA player,” a reality that cannot be ignored.
As for Bueckers, she’s more than proven her talent in the league and is the only player besides Clark to average average 19 points and 5 assists in their rookie season, ESPN noted.Â