When the NCAA women’s basketball gained traction for the very first time in 2023, one of the headlining storylines was Caitlin Clark vs Paige Bueckers. On one hand was the Iowa Hawkeyes star, who sent a shockwave through the Midwest and then ultimately the nation. Her unpredictable passes, deep logo 3s, and showmanship did not let the arena calm down for a second. On the other hand, there was UConn’s standout. A technical guard who played textbook basketball for a storied program under a legendary HC, Geno Auriemma. But their popularity didn’t just start in college.

Since their high school days, the two players have faced each other in their AAU games. But showing sportsmanship, they have also played together for the national team. Since their early days, they have been the reasons why aspiring young fans have wanted to pursue basketball at the highest level. Delivering on the expectations through college and then the WNBA only added to their growing fandom. Now, the same young fans from high school have voted for who they consider their superstar among the two.

The verdict came at the first Annual Strictly 3×3 Basketball Tournament at Hopkins High School in Hopkins, Minnesota. At first, the votes were even. But it slowly turned into a landslide victory for the local star. By the end of the trivia, the count stood 19-5 in favor of the Dallas Wings guard from Hopkins, Minnesota. Some even reasoned why they picked one over the other. 

One player from the black team maintained her loyalty for her AAU team, the All-Iowa Attack, and stated, “Paige is from Minnesota but can’t pick Paige ‘cause I play for Attack, so Caitlin.” Of course, in her high school, Clark was one of the most touted Attack players. With her, the AAU team swept the 2018 Nike Girls EYBL national championship and was runner-up in 2017 and 2019. Although she never won a state title with Dowling High, she was well-known in basketball circles across Iowa from middle school itself.

Another player from the same team noted, “I kind of agree, but it’s like a win-win, I guess. So, I pick both, kinda.” The debate is tough. Even in their WNBA careers, the two are first-overall picks. Bueckers, already the only rookie with consecutive rookie of the month titles this season, is on the path to follow Clark for ROTY this season.

A handful were quick to pick the local star who has certainly paved a road for them to follow in Minnesota, saying, “I have to say Paige, too, since I’m from Minnesota,” and “Paige Bueckers, go Minnesota!” While some, despite competing in Bueckers’ state, chose to go with the reigning league ROTY, “I’m going to be different and say Caitlin Clark.” The voting might still be skewed since the tournament was in Hopkins, Minnesota, and who wouldn’t want to pick their player? But it doesn’t take away from what the two were able to accomplish.

Caitlin Clark’s four-year career at Iowa rewrote the NCAA Division I record books. She graduated as the all-time leading scorer—men’s or women’s—with 3,951 points. She also led the NCAA with 8.8 assists per game in her final year. Her deep shooting range and explosive scoring made her one of the game’s most feared offensive players. Even Dawn Staley mentioned how the teams don’t plan strategies against the Hawkeyes, but on how to stop Clark.

She also tallied 17 career triple-doubles. Clark won back-to-back National Player of the Year awards and multiple Big Ten Player of the Year honors, totaling over 42 in her NCAA career. The biggest achievement, however, was her leading Iowa to two straight national championship games, even though the Hawkeyes fell short both times.

Paige Bueckers, meanwhile, left UConn as one of the most efficient players in school history. She scored 2,439 career points, the third-most in program history. She became the fastest UConn player to reach 2,000 points, doing it in just 102 games. Injuries limited her time on the court, but she made the most of every season she played.

In her final year, Bueckers averaged 19.9 points, 4.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game to lead the Huskies to a perfect 18-0 Big East season. Her career at Storrs ended with a Big East Tournament crown and the 2025 national championship. She is UConn’s all-time leading NCAA Tournament scorer. Overall, Clark’s career was defined by record-breaking numbers, while Bueckers’ legacy is built on star production and ultimate team success. The debate isn’t that easy to crack.

Be it Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal in tennis or Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning in football, rivalries, serious or not, are always present in sports. They are also good for any sporting league, especially the developing ones, like the WNBA. They draw in more fans by creating storylines that go beyond the scoreboard. Fans pick sides, media coverage intensifies, and every matchup feels like a must-watch event. The Clark vs Bueckers rivalry is doing the same.

Why the Caitlin Clark vs Paige Bueckers debate is good for the WNBA?

“I really do want to see Bueckers vs Clark clash, I want to see that go down. I want them to guard each other, I want the storylines.” Megan Rapinoe, former professional soccer star and the fiancée of WNBA legend Sue Bird, spelled out her wish clearly. When voices from outside the league start rallying for a matchup, you know it’s more than just a game. The Clark vs Bueckers rivalry has the potential to be a spark that injects fresh energy into the WNBA.

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers may battle fiercely on the court, but off it, they share a genuine friendship. Both have talked about their bond from their national team appearance to represent the USA. In the NCAA, they had a notable matchup in the 2021 NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Then, Bueckers’ UConn Huskies defeated Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes 92-72. Clark later went on one of the most remarkable runs in college basketball history, leading Iowa to back-to-back national championship games, also defeating UConn in her final appearance.

When the 2024 WNBA Draft came, Clark turned pro, while Bueckers stayed at UConn for another year. The Indiana Fever’s number one pick averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in her rookie year, set records for most points (769) and most threes (122) by a rookie.

Although snubbed from the Paris Olympics, she made the All-Star team as a starter. She earned All-WNBA First Team honors and was crowned Rookie of the Year. Clark was also the only player to lead in average assists in both her NCAA final year and rookie year in the WNBA. Off the court, she helped spark a 182% surge in Indiana’s attendance while selling out arenas and merch.

Fast forward to 2025, and the spotlight is now on Bueckers. Drafted first overall by the Dallas Wings, she has lived up to the hype with averages of 18.5 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. She’s the only rookie this season to win Rookie of the Month twice in a row and has ranked top 10 in points, assists, and steals for multiple months. All signs point to her following in Clark’s footsteps as a near-lock for Rookie of the Year.

With similar runs, they are set to be generational talents who will shape the future of the game. Any Clark-Bueckers matchup will sell out, and it is not about rivalry but two stars bringing fans to the arena. But when it comes to the fans, they have their verdict set.