The basketball community has been full of chatter after WNBA conversations comparing 2023 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark and the current frontrunner for the award, Paige Bueckers, set off a storm on social media.
The video posted on X included WNBA commentators discussing the statistical similarities between Clark’s rookie campaign in 2024 and Bueckers’ rookie season with the Dallas Wings, who was the first overall pick for this year’s WNBA draft.
It was interesting to note that the comparatives got some extra buzz when the analysts brought up Buecker’s playmaking ability to get other players the ball, whereas Clark was more focused on getting herself open to shoot when she was on the offense.
“you can tell they are two different style of players. paige is getting people involved caitlin’s more looking for her shot.”
caitlin the wnba all time single game and single season assist leader…. pic.twitter.com/oL9CbQxfmO
— correlation (@nosyone4) August 2, 2025
One particularly viral comment described: “People don’t play Paige the way they did CC (Caitlin Clark). There’s no comparison. Stats in the W are trash”
“Like can they not read?! The assists stats are right in front of their face”, said another fan, referring to Clark’s assist count.
“Page has an exceptional midrange game and a quick release. I’ll give her that. She is not near the playmaker that Clark is – no one else is.” stated another fan.
“Caitlin is earning every inch, while the league is stumbling over itself to usher Paige to the front.” commented a fan in support of Caitlin Clark.
A couple more fans called out the commentators, stating:
“This take brought to you by folks who don’t read box scores.”
“And here I thought just the refs were complete trash”, said a fan.
“Caitlin Clark is the assist leader as a rookie an she average more assist than Paige so Caitlin Clark gets players involved an get her own shot, said a fan while trying to make sense of the statistics at display.”
Meanwhile, another poster had a contrarian opinion, backing the commentators:
“I don’t wanna discredit Caitlin, but just because u have more assists doesn’t mean ur a better playmaker. Lebron has more all time assists than Steve Nash, Magic Johnson and will prob pass Kidd next szn. I don’t think he’s a better playmaker then them tho”.
Injury Timeline Complicates Caitlin Clark vs Paige Bueckers Rookie Debate
The timing of this controversy adds another layer of complexity. Clark is sidelined and currently recovering from a right groin injury she suffered on July 15, forcing her to miss important games and All-Star shenanigans.
While Clark and Napheesa Collier were named honorary All-Star captains, Clark confirmed she has already told the league she won’t be playing in the 3-point contest or the All-Star game due to her continued recovery.
Clark’s fanbase argues that just looking at statistics not only misses major contextual variables like defensive attention, quality of teammates, and the coaching systems that impact individual performance.
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