Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers had the opposite fortunes. As a rookie, Clark led the Indiana Fever to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. On the other hand, Paige Bueckers’ Dallas was down in the trenches at 10-34, with the team looking at the playoffs from afar. However, Jason Whitlock believes the balance may already be shifting.

The Wings were 1-2, with two consecutive losses and an indictment of ‘selfishness’ from head coach Jose Fernandez. However, they turned up the intensity against the Mystics. Bueckers dropped 18 points,7 assists, and 3 rebounds, and Azzi Fudd had her first double-digit performance with 12 points while adding 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and a steal. For Whitlock, that brief glimpse of Dallas’ ceiling was enough to spark intrigue.

“Azzi Fudd is a developing problem,” Whitlock wrote. “She’ll be starting the rest of the year. Dallas has something serious building.  Paige is gonna win big before CC.”

And while the statement may have raised eyebrows, the roster construction difference does offer a compelling case.

The Fever front office did not make big moves this offseason, focusing on retention. They brought in Monique Billings, Myisha Hines Allen, and Tyasha Harris and drafted Raven Johnson.

On the other hand, the Wings brought in Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepherd from Minnesota. They added the size of Awak Kuier and the shooting of Azzi Fudd. The Wings even have a backup point guard in Odyssey Sims, who replaced Caitlin Clark last year. However, their ceiling goes to another level with Fudd at her best.

If Fudd can get into form in this rotation, this Wings team becomes more dangerous. They are currently 7th in 3-point shooting with 32.7%. Fudd is known for her shooting, so once that number spikes, the team will do better.

Fudd stretching the floor will give Smith, Shepherd, and Kuier much more space under the basket. It will give Bueckers flexibility with her scoring, changing the entire nature of this team. 

Yet Dallas’ upside doesn’t automatically erase Indiana’s biggest advantage: continuity. Clark still has Aliyah Boston, Sophie Cunningham, and Kelsey Mitchell for support, not to mention Lexie Hull and Hines Allen. However, they do have a size problem, especially with Boston out.

The Wings look more well-rounded on paper. But the chemistry gap might give Fever the advantage. This Fever core has played together for almost 2 years. In one of them, Clark was not even fit for the entire season. 

The Wings have a new team and a new coach. If the Wings can figure that out, Paige Bueckers and Co. might go ahead in this head-to-head comparison. On a more individual level, Bueckers could take one aspect from Clark that could elevate her game 

Paige Bueckers Could Take One Aspect From Caitlin Clark To Elevate Dallas Wings

Paige Bueckers has always been hailed as efficient. She is cool and calculated and tries to get everyone involved to make the best decision in the moment. Even this season, Bueckers is shooting 57.4% from the field and 54.5% from the three-point line.  However, Bueckers could be too passive at times, which hurts the team. 

This is not a recent critique; it dates back to her UConn days, when Geno Auriemma himself asked her to be more aggressive. “Paige is a patient person who waits, and I think she is going to learn, or has begun to learn, that there is no waiting at this time of the year… You have to be more selfish,” he said at the time.

So far, Bueckers is averaging 11.8 field goals attempted per game. Compare that to Caitlin Clark, who is averaging a whopping 18.3 per game. Bueckers is playing with a volume scorer like Airke Ogunbowale, and Clark is playing with Kelsey Mitchell.  That’s not to say Bueckers needs to get to Clark’s number. 

But she could increase her attempts and be more aggressive. She is arguably the best player on the Wings, and they could benefit from Bueckers’ scoring. If she does, the rest of the team will have it easier. She was already the player with the highest gravity in 2025, and once she starts taking more shots, the opponents will pay even more attention to her. 

In addition, Alanna Smith and Aziaha James are not shooting well, logging below 35% from the field on 6 and 5.8 attempts, respectively. Bueckers could take up some of their shots and add an extra punch to that offense.