It was one of those years that reminded everyone why women’s basketball keeps pulling people in. Paige Bueckers guided the UConn Huskies to their 12th Big Dance title, while A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces kept their dynasty run alive by winning a third WNBA championship in four seasons. As the year draws to a close, ESPN decided to pay tribute to the stars who defined the game in 2025, with Caitlin Clark among the standout names honored.

Caitlin Clark’s season may have been derailed by injuries, limiting her 2025 WNBA campaign to just 13 games, but it was not without its moments. One of the biggest came right after her return from a left quadriceps injury against the New York Liberty. It lit up timelines, and ESPN later honored it as one of the most engaging posts of the entire year.

Yes, it was “that” moment. Caitlin Clark was drilling a deep three right over Breanna Stewart in the second quarter of their June matchup. With the shot clock running out, Clark showed supreme composure, rose up, and let it fly over one of the best players in the game. The brief exchange that followed between the two players went viral, which showed the mutual respect both had for each other.

Clark put on a show that night, finishing with 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, while knocking down seven three-pointers. Her performance powered the Indiana Fever to a statement 102–88 win over the New York Liberty, handing the defending champions their first loss of the season.

When asked about the moment, Stewie could not help but smile as she reflected on it, acknowledging just how special the exchange was between the two on that night.

“Once she made it, she was just kind of like laughing, and I was laughing like it was a great shot. It’s a tough shot, and it’s one of those ones where you’re like, you go to the other end,” she said. “I’m happy I’m seeing a lot of great sportsmanship comments from that, so love that.”

But Clark wasn’t the only W star to be honored.

Paige Bueckers also received recognition from ESPN, landing one of the coldest images of the year. The moment came when she was named among SportsCenter’s Top 10 women’s basketball athletes following her season with the UConn Huskies. The ESPN photoshoot that followed, featuring her SportsCenter Top 10 necklace, was nothing short of iconic.

Bueckers capped off her UConn career with a true fairytale ending, leading the Huskies to a championship win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. She did it after a stellar season in which she averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, putting the perfect bow on an unforgettable college journey filled with many highs and lows.

While Paige carried that momentum into the WNBA by winning Rookie of the Year, Caitlin Clark endured a far more troubling season, as mentioned above. Clark later reflected on those highs and lows in a heartfelt year-end post on Instagram.

Caitlin Clark reflects on her 2025 season

In a season she would probably like to forget, Caitlin Clark faced something new. Injuries. After never missing time earlier in her career, she dealt with three separate quad and groin issues and became part of a Fever team constantly fighting health problems. Yet as the year ended, Clark shifted her focus away from the lows and instead reflected on the moments that made the season meaningful.

In her latest post on Instagram, Caitlin Clark shared a photo dump featuring moments with her family, friends, and teammates. She reflected on a challenging year while looking ahead to a fresh start. Her caption said it all:

“2025 you were a year… 2026 I welcome you with open arms let’s get it 🤍💫✨⭐️🫶🏻🤩.”

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Without Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever were heartbreakingly close, finishing just one win shy of the title game. With a healthy Clark back in the lineup, Indiana could finally take that last step and reach the promised land. Here’s hoping she stays healthy next year and we finally get to see the very best of her.