Well, headlines always love to frame it as a rivalry, but Paige Bueckers isn’t buying it. The No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Wings ahead of this season shared that comparisons between her and Caitlin Clark are baseless. “That’s what the media cares about,” Bueckers said during an interview with TIME. “But I’ve done so much work on myself and my approach.” And she’s right—not just because she says it loud and clear, but because the two are completely different types of players.

Despite Bueckers’ statements, the headlines of their rivalry have not gone away. Instead, some media houses are doubling down on it. It began when ION broadcast boldly stated, “Compare the rookie of the year last year to the potential rookie of the year this year.” But it wasn’t the premise that raised eyebrows—it was the stats they chose to compare.

“You can see their numbers are pretty much point by point,” the broadcast claimed. But are they, really? Not quite. While CC was averaging 19.2 points with a league-leading 8.4 assists and a 20.9 efficiency rating last year, PB is posting 18.3 points, nearly 5.5 assists, and a higher efficiency of 23.2 this season.

Sure, Paige’s efficiency is strong, but 8.4 assists compared to 5.5? That’s not “point by point,” no matter how you spin it. And it’s not just ION. “With the first half Bueckers strung together, it’s officially fair to consider that if she keeps it up in the second half, she could end up having a better rookie season than Clark, pound for pound,” wrote Civian, a Sports Illustrated analyst.

But again, comparing their rookie seasons? That’s shaky ground as CC in her first year, shattered records—leading the league in assists while setting over 19 historic milestones. Whether it was scoring, assists, or three-pointers, Clark led them all.

Her impact? It extended beyond Indiana as she helped boost league-wide attendance, Fever ticket sales, and national viewership. So, yes, Clark completely nailed it. Sure, Paige entered the league with a national title, something the 23-year-old Iowa native hadn’t done. But their roles, styles, and team situations are entirely different, making comparisons seem forced and media-driven.

And, that’s not to say Bueckers is any less talented, but she’s simply built differently. She kicked off the second half of the season with 14 points, four rebounds, and six assists in a win over the Storm, tying Clark’s league record as the fastest player to reach 300 points and 100 assists. PB, also leads all rookies in points (18.2) and assists (5.5) per game, while also averaging 4.1 rebounds (No. 6 overall) and 1.7 steals (No. 2). And let’s not forget, she’s doing all this on a struggling Wings roster, still managing to showcase a rare all-around game for a rookie. But while a rookie stats comparison sits well with spectators, comparing assists doesn’t!

Fans aren’t having this unfair comparison between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark

Once ION aired the broadcast, fans quickly flooded the comment sections. “I’ll never understand this lol. Caitlin broke the LEAGUE record for most assists her rookie year and they still refuse to say she’s an amazing playmaker,” one user wrote. And they have got a point. Clark tallied 337 assists in her rookie year, shattering the previous rookie record of 225 and even breaking the overall single-season assists record.

“Like can they not read?! The assists stats are right in front of their face,” penned another. And rightly so. Assists do matter. They create opportunities for teammates and elevate team play. Whether it’s threading a no-look pass to Aliyah Boston or launching a long outlet to Sophie Cunningham for a layup, Clark does it all. Even legendary coach Dawn Staley once said, “For me, the most dangerous thing of Caitlin Clark is her passing ability… her ability to make other people better.” Hence, it wasn’t a big surprise that many fans found the ION comparison a touch biased and unfair.

One user joked, “What are they gonna say next? She doesn’t have clutch 3s too?” And yeah—he has a point. While some might point to games where Clark endured shooting slumps, those were largely due to her left and right groin injuries. But that doesn’t erase the impact of her deep daggers under pressure.

Remember her May 25 game vs. the Sparks? She launched a backbreaking 33-footer to seal the Fever’s win with 2:24 left. Then, under a minute later, she buried a 28-foot clutch three to turn a one-point lead into a multi-possession cushion. “I want to take those shots at the end of the game … that’s a mindset and confidence thing,” Clark shared in a postgame interview. And it’s not just those—she’s made buckets from 36, 27, 33, and even 35 feet. So yeah, fans know why the rookie stats comparison isn’t quite landing.

“Caitlin is the better overall player, but at least this is a better debate than Clark vs. Reese,” another fan noted. And it’s true. Comparing two scorers with similar roles makes more sense than comparing Clark with Angel Reese, whose impact centers on rebounds and double-doubles. But, Chi-town Barbie and CC’s rivalry had its roots in college drama, and PB’s comparison with Indian Fever sensation is all about stats.

Still, not everyone’s convinced. “Just saying anything,” one frustrated user commented. Even though Clark hasn’t hit the same heights in 2025 due to injuries and some inconsistency, she remains the face of the league. Just ask her teammate Sophie Cunningham, who recently said, “It literally p—- me off when people are like, ‘She’s not the face of the league.’ What?” And Bueckers herself? She doesn’t believe in the comparisons either. “The ability to not run a race in comparison, to run my own race and worry about that,” she explained. “Caitlin’s a phenomenal player. We’re also completely different players.” So, now that you’ve seen both sides, what do you think about the Paige vs. Caitlin comparisons? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.