The debate over who is the better player between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers has carried over from their college days into their current WNBA careers. Many experts have discussed this topic, and the two are often compared.
If asked, award-winning sports analyst Christine Brennan would say it’s the Indiana Fever star, and it’s far beyond any earthly measure we know.
Christine Brennan on the Gap Between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers
During her appearance on “Outspoken with Dan Sileo,” Brennan noted that Clark is now well ahead of Bueckers in terms of impact on the sport, even though Bueckers was initially ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2020 and Clark No. 4 before entering college.
Despite experts saying the Dallas Wings guard is more fundamentally sound than her Indiana Fever counterpart, the USA Today columnist highlighted Clark’s potential to draw more fans into the building with her dynamic, high-risk, long-range game.
“She’s an entertainer. It’s the high wire act,” Brennan said of Clark.
While Clark is the main reason the 17,000-plus-seater Gainbridge Fieldhouse is almost sold out for every home game and a top attraction when they come to town, Bueckers and the Wings rarely fill the College Park Center, even with her and 2026 No. 1 draft pick Azzi Fudd headlining the team.
“Paige Bueckers with Dallas cannot sell out a 6,251-seat arena. 20 games last year, only 8 were sold out,” Brennan continued.
“Caitlin, of course, 17,000 plus in Indiana plus on the road, moving to the 20,000 seat arena. Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers are not even in the same solar system.”
The veteran sportswriter/author also slammed another narrative about Clark’s main collegiate rival, Angel Reese.
Brennan said that, like Bueckers, Reese, who was drafted by the Chicago Sky in 2024 and then traded to the Atlanta Dream in April, could not fill Wintrust Arena without Clark and the Fever visiting the gym.
“People were not buying tickets to watch Angel in Chicago. Caitlin coming into town was the reason,” Brennan said.
This season, Clark has a slight statistical edge over her UConn counterpart. The Fever star has averaged 20.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists, helping Indiana to an 8-5 record.
In comparison, Bueckers has tallied 19.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists for the Wings (8-5).
The debate over who is the better player between Clark and Bueckers will be a long-term topic of discussion within the WNBA community. Their names will be inextricably linked, and their impact on the sport will be widely discussed in years to come.
