Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers may not have gone head-to-head yet, but they’ve already made history together. The two No. 1 picks were under the same roof at the American Airlines Center, one lighting it up on the floor, the other hyping from the sidelines. To watch them, a jaw-dropping 20,409 fans packed the arena – the biggest crowd ever for a pro women’s basketball game in Texas. Huge moment. And we just know this was just the beginning. But along the way, the comparisons between these two are also not going away.

Fans have been dreaming of this matchup for years now. Their college battles were legendary. Remember the 2021 Sweet Sixteen? Bueckers nearly dropped a triple-double and led UConn to a 92-72 win over Iowa. Clark still had 21 points, but Bueckers was just on another level. 

Fast forward to the 2024 Final Four, and Clark was the star of women’s hoops, and Bueckers was coming off an ACL tear. This time, it was Iowa’s turn. They edged out UConn 71-69. But that was college. Everyone’s been itching for that pro-level showdown. Unfortunately, we’re still waiting. Both are sidelined now, nursing injuries for the second time this season.

Still, just 1/3 season in, and the stat comparisons are happening. It might be a surprise to many, but Paige is leading in almost everything. In 13 games, Bueckers is averaging 18.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks. Meanwhile, Clark has played 9 games so far, putting up 18.2 points, 5 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks.

 So yes, Caitlin’s got the edge in boards and assists, but Paige has got the scoring, steals, and defense numbers on lock. But the internet doesn’t care for nuance, right? The moment someone tweeted those side-by-side stats, Clark fans were out in full force, and the comments section was filled. 

“She’ll never be CC!’ Fans go to war over Paige Bueckers as stats say otherwise

The X thread that lit up the internet started with one user posting, “One of these players has been on every media ballot released so far and one has been on barely any….. let that sink in.” And just like that, the fan war exploded. One comment came swinging, “Your girl is never gonna be CC no matter how hard you cry.” But a Bueckers fan quickly clapped back with, “Good, we want championships.” That must have hit a nerve. While Clark’s college career was a storybook of highlights, records, and 40-foot bombs, she never got that NCAA title. Paige did – she helped take UConn to the top just last year. 

Sure, pro titles are a different beast, but when you look at expectations, Indiana was pegged as a title contender, while Dallas… well, not so much. And with both teams off to shaky starts (by their own individual standards), we’re still waiting on that mid-season turnaround. Another comment read: “One of these players made the WNBA come to life and was an All-WNBA First Team selection last year as a rookie.” Fair point, as Clark’s now missed seven games: five with a quad strain, two with this groin thing, and folks think she’s been playing through pain the whole time. But Bueckers fans weren’t staying quiet either. “She’s a rookie fresh off a full college run and has also been playing through injury,” one wrote.

Plus, the whole league’s in chaos right now thanks to that brutal schedule. Everyone’s exhausted. The fact that either of them is putting up these kinds of numbers is impressive. Then came third, “Being on the worst team in the league is terrible for team stats, but great for individual stats. I have a feeling these stats would be very different if Clark was the PG for the Wings and Paige for the Fever.” It sounds fair at first. But let’s not act like Dallas is a one-woman show. Arike’s still there. And the Wings’ rookies have been stepping up big while Bueckers has been sidelined.

Meanwhile, Fever without Clark has looked totally out of rhythm, but they have stars, too. So it’s a team game, but both players are the heartbeat of their squads. And if we actually look at it, the stat gap isn’t even that wide. One fan chimed in with love for both: “Paige is fantastic. Smooth. Efficient. CC’s just more fun to watch.” They even shouted out Bueckers’ halfcourt buzzer-beater, saying it felt like a “Clark shot.” That’s kind of the whole point. Clark’s known for the logo 3s, those wild shots that make you jump off your couch. Remember her ranges in the Liberty game? Bueckers got that surgical style – calm, controlled, but deadly.

It’s all about preference. If you love flair, you’re gonna lean Clark. If you’re a purist, Bueckers might be your baller. Then someone brought Angel Reese into the chat, saying, “They need AR to be the villain to CC to avoid comparing CC to players like PB.” Reese and Clark don’t even play the same position. That rivalry was fun, sure, but it felt more like fans and media-driven. Now with Bueckers in the league and already balling out, fans are saying forget the AR-CC talk as Clark vs. Bueckers is the real one to watch.

But you know what? Despite all the fan wars and debates, the players themselves have nothing but respect. Paige recently spoke out about the pressure Clark faces, saying, “She handles it with grace. The pressure that she’s put on every single night to perform at the level that she does, it’s inhumane, really, to expect people to be perfect and to not have off games or off nights.” We know that Clark’s been under a microscope. Her shooting slump, especially on the road- 1-of-28 from deep was brutal. But she’s still out there grinding (not for now). 

So, say what you want, but one thing’s for sure: these two are the faces of the league. They’re bringing in fans, driving headlines, and reshaping what women’s basketball looks like. When that first pro matchup finally hits, you better believe it’ll be the biggest moment of the season.