Left: Grace Hollars-IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn / Right: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

ESPN Makes Clear Choice Between Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated May 7, 2025 10:40 PM ET

Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark have been pitted against each other over the years. Now that Bueckers is in the WNBA as well, the comparison between them should only intensify.

When Bueckers won the national championship with UConn this past college basketball season, there were plenty of comments highlighting how she's better because she had a title. In comparison, Clark failed to win the ultimate prize during her four-year run with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Several critics even mocked Clark after Bueckers' win, as she became the only top-five recruit from the 2020 high school recruiting class to not win a national championship.

As Bueckers starts her WNBA career, however, ESPN has predicted her potential stats in 2025 and her overall fantasy outlook as a member of the Wings, playing alongside Arike Ogunbowale.

Interestingly, though, Bueckers' projected numbers aren't as good as Clark's stats during her rookie season.

ESPN sees Bueckers averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, while shooting 51.0 percent from the field and 82.2 percent from the free throw line.

In comparison, Clark put up 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks as a rookie. She also shot 41.7 percent from the field and 90.6 percent from the charity stripe.

"Bueckers has less fantasy upside than Clark as a rookie since the UConn product isn't as dominant from beyond the arc and doesn't produce as much as a passer or rebounder," the ESPN fantasy projection noted.

"Despite these factors, Bueckers should still be a solid contributor for the rebuilding Wings in 2025 and warrants consideration in the early-to-mid rounds of fantasy drafts."

It remains to be seen how productive Paige Bueckers will actually be in her first year in the WNBA. As a rookie, there are a ton of adjustments that she needs to make, especially with the physicality in the league.

Sure enough, though, plenty of eyes will be watching her closely to compare her to Clark.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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