Women’s basketball in 2025 was defined as much by moments as by milestones. Championships were won, stars emerged, and conversations around the game reached new heights across digital platforms.
As the calendar turned, ESPN looked back on the players who helped drive that momentum, placing Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers at the center of its year end tribute.
For Clark, the season unfolded in unexpected ways. Injuries limited her time on the floor with the Indiana Fever, marking the first real interruption of her professional career.
Yet even in a shortened campaign, her presence remained impossible to ignore.
One sequence in particular stood out. Returning from a left quadriceps injury, Clark buried a deep three pointer over Breanna Stewart as the shot clock expired during a June matchup with the New York Liberty.
The clip exploded online, earning recognition from ESPN as one of the most engaging moments of the year.
That night, Clark delivered one of her most complete performances as a pro, finishing with 32 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists while leading Indiana to a 102 to 88 win over the defending champions.
Stewart later reflected on the exchange with admiration.
“Once she made it, she was just kind of like laughing, and I was laughing like it was a great shot. It’s a tough shot and it’s one of those ones where you’re like, you know, and you go to the other end,” she said.
“I’m happy I’m seeing a lot of great sportsmanship comments from that, so love that.”
A championship ending and a look ahead
While Clark navigated setbacks, Paige Bueckers experienced a season many athletes dream of.
She guided UConn to a national championship over South Carolina, closing her college career with authority and earning a place among SportsCenter’s Top 10 women’s basketball athletes.
Her numbers told the story of consistency and leadership, as she averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists during the title run.
ESPN later captured the moment with a photoshoot that quickly became one of the year’s most recognizable images.
Bueckers carried that success into the WNBA by earning Rookie of the Year honors, while Clark used the offseason to reflect.
In an Instagram post, she summed up her mindset with optimism, writing, “2025 you were a year… 2026 I welcome you with open arms let’s get it.”
Together, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers showed that impact is not defined by a single path, making ESPN’s tribute a fitting close to a memorable year.
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