Last year, the Rookie of the Year race was quite obvious. Yes, Angel Reese went head-to-head with Caitlin Clark, but as the Indiana Fever sensation went on to break 19 historic records, the race was hers. This year, however, it’s a different story — despite both Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers being No. 1 picks in consecutive years. And the driving force behind the narrative shift? The same culprit who framed the Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark rivalry.

Yes, it’s the media — and that’s not just speculation. Well, Rachael DeAmita called it out directly: “The media just covers things so much differently with Caitlin than they do with Paige,” she shared in a recent episode of her podcast, pointing to a potential double standard. And no doubt, she’s right.

Well, that’s because back in April last year, CC came in with an impact that turned heads globally toward the W, and soon it started to reflect as the league saw a significant 94% increase in attendance. But with that also came struggles for the 23-year-old Iowa native, as she faced instant pressure from fans and the media.

And, in just a couple of weeks, narratives like her being “the face of the league” started emerging. Remember when Charles Barkley called WNBA players “petty” for their reluctance to let Clark take over that role? Well, even LeBron James urged more appreciation for the attention Clark brought to the sport and with all that came the pressure to perform at the highest level.

Well, Sue Bird put it best when she said last year on The Rich Eisen Show, “Sometimes it feels like the weight of the WNBA is on her shoulders. That is both a compliment and warranted in a lot of ways but also may be a little bit unfair to put so much on her.”

Yes, it was unfair — but CC kept moving, fighting all criticism and meeting every expectation, even when the media predicted Angel Reese to win Rookie of the Year simply because the Chicago Sky was a game ahead of the Indiana Fever. At last, with her hard work and her mindset — “I’m 22 years old, and there’s a lot of expectations on my shoulders… Allowing myself a lot of grace at times is really hard because I’m a perfectionist…” she told The Washington Post — she nailed it, receiving 66 of 67 votes to become Rookie of the Year.

Well-deserved, right? She already had over 19 rookie records under her name, all while leading the league in assists in just her first year. But now, one year later, Paige Bueckers is facing none of that pressure despite being in a tight race with Sonia Citron for the title.

Just consider, while PB’s leading in scoring with an average of 17.7 points per game in her first 12 games, Sonia Citron’s got 14.2 points per game in her first 12. But the story doesn’t end here, as Citron has her own strengths as she’s far more dangerous from deep, attempting 4.3 three-pointers per game and making 1.5, while Bueckers takes 3.3 and makes 1.0 across the first 12 games.

Still, if you ask who’s got an edge? “I still think Paige deserves Rookie of the Year,” Rachael DeAmita’s got an answer, “but if you’re going by the media standards and what people were saying last year, it’s interesting to compare.” The race does seem tighter this time, but the media isn’t covering it the same way. There’s a reason — yes, PB is a first-round pick like CC, but the level of expectations for her is different because the Indiana Fever sensation arrived with a bigger immediate impact.

That doesn’t mean Paige Bueckers is any less tough.

When PB arrived, she started slow — but that’s the norm for rookies in the league. Once she found her rhythm, her impact was immediate, delivering standout performances including a fast-break double-double and a 35-point explosion from beyond the arc.

Just look at the Wings’ last game, where Bueckers scored 17 points to lead the team while moving into a tie for fourth place in W history with Ruthie Bolton for her 25th straight double-double scoring game. That’s something PB has — along with a championship title — that CC didn’t achieve in her rookie season.

Still, PB knows her journey is different from CC’s — not only because they play different positions but also because they have different playing styles and goals for their teams. And as for the media attention? PB actually asked for a change back in her final season at Connecticut: “I honestly hope next year I’m not the focal point and the only person that gets attention. I hope as media, as players, we can spread the love a little bit more.”

And yes, they did — especially during All-Star weekend, where both players supported each other and seemed to have fun while doing it. So, you know exactly how it is between the two stars. But the question now is: will PB win ROTY?