Paige Bueckers is entering her sophomore WNBA season with historic attention, and she is already pushing back against one of the league’s most persistent storylines. She recently shut down any notion of a rivalry between herself and WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark.
Paige Bueckers Speaks on Caitlin Clark Relationship, Criticizes Media
Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, addressed her relationship with Indiana Fever star Clark during an appearance on the Not Gonna Lie With Kylie Kelce YouTube show. In the interview, Bueckers made it clear that the perceived animosity between the two players is largely a media creation.
“It’s crazy because everybody’s pinning me and Caitlin against each other for the longest time,” Bueckers said. “I mean, we’re cool. We’re friends, but again it’s respect of the competition. We understand how media works and how they want to pin two people against each other and they’re supposed to hate each other.”
Bueckers’ comments come as she experiences a level of hype comparable to what Clark drew during her rookie season in 2024.
The 2025 WNBA Draft, which featured Bueckers as the top selection by the Dallas Wings, delivered the second-highest viewership in draft history. ESPN averaged 1.25 million viewers, with a peak of 1.46 million, second only to Clark.
Since entering the league, Bueckers has frequently been compared to Clark, both in performance and popularity. On the court, she lived up to expectations. Bueckers won the 2025 WNBA Rookie of the Year award, mirroring Clark’s achievement from the previous season.
Statistically, the comparisons have only intensified. Bueckers reached the 250-point mark in just 13 games. Clark needed 16 games to reach the same milestone during her rookie campaign, which was already considered one of the fastest starts in league history since 2006.
Bueckers also set a new fan engagement record. She received 805,471 fan votes for the WNBA All-Star Game, the most ever by a rookie. The previous record was held by Clark, who received 700,735 votes in 2024.
Despite the constant comparisons, Bueckers emphasized that her relationship with Clark has remained rooted in mutual respect rather than rivalry-driven tension. Their competitive history stretches back to college basketball, where both became generational stars.
Clark finished her collegiate career as the all-time scoring leader in NCAA Division I history, across both men’s and women’s basketball. She led Iowa to two national championship games but never won a title.
Bueckers, meanwhile, capped her UConn career with a national championship in her final season, a contrast that fueled debate among fans and analysts.
WNBA 2026 Tipoff With Bueckers vs. Clark Season Opener
The two players crossed paths only once last WNBA season, largely due to Clark missing significant time with injuries. In Dec. 2025, both players participated in a Team USA senior national team training camp at Duke University from Dec. 12-14.
Looking ahead, their matchups are expected to draw significant attention. The 2026 WNBA season tips off May 9, with Clark and the Fever scheduled to face Bueckers and the Wings in the season opener. Indiana reached the semifinals last season despite Clark missing much of the year, while Dallas finished last in the Western Conference.
That said, the league’s two most recognizable young stars, Clark and Bueckers, will undoubtedly continue to be linked. Bueckers’ message, however, made it clear that the competition indeed is real, but any fierce rivalry narrative is manufactured.
