At this point last season, the WNBA was on a month-long hiatus for the Paris Olympics, and the buzz centered on the impressive rookie campaigns of Angel Reese and especially Caitlin Clark. This year, with a standard schedule in play, the spotlight has shifted to Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick, who’s riding a hot streak of three straight games with 20-plus points.
She’s outpacing Clark and Reese in several key areas like minutes per game, points, steals, field goal percentage, three-point accuracy, and fewer turnovers. The big difference? After 29 games, the Wings sit at a dismal 8-21, while the Fever were 13-16 and Chicago 11-18 at that mark last year, both still in the playoff hunt. With 15 games left, Bueckers’ team faces an uphill battle.
Clark’s Words to Bueckers as Fever Prevails Against Wings
The Dallas Wings dropped a 88-78 decision to the Indiana Fever on Friday night, even as the Fever extended Caitlin Clark’s absence to six consecutive games-of the 29 contests Indiana has played, she’s suited up for just 13. That didn’t faze Paige Bueckers, who earned the pre-game props from Clark and delivered with 22 points, though no teammate joined her in double digits.
Ahead of tip-off, Ion broadcast a clip of Caitlin Clark heaping praise on the Dallas Wings’ rookie phenom. “You love competing against top-tier talents,” Clark said of the ex-UConn standout. “I’ve always admired her style and how she handles herself. She’s so fluid in all she does-efficient, deadly from anywhere: long-range, mid-range, at the rim. A true three-level threat. What makes her tough is her versatility. Ultimately, she’s a winner, the kind you build around.”
The Fever compensated for Clark’s sidelining with balanced scoring: four players hit at least 11 points, topped by Kelsey Mitchell’s 23, while Natasha Howard notched a commanding double-double of 11 points and 16 rebounds.
Bueckers has lived up to the hype this season, posting 18.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game-earning her an All-Star starting nod. She’s dropped at least 10 points every outing and tallied 11 games with 20 or more. Last season, Clark set the rookie scoring record at 769 points; Bueckers has 425 so far. At her 18.5 clip over the remaining 15 games, she won’t eclipse it, but a few big nights could narrow the gap significantly.
Bueckers vs. Clark: A Match for the Years to Come
Comparing Bueckers’ first 23 games to Clark’s reveals some eye-opening similarities. Remember, Bueckers was the premier college prospect, snagging National Player of the Year honors as a freshman before injuries sidelined her for chunks of her UConn career-until last season’s national title run propelled her to the top draft spot.
Last year, Clark ranked seventh in points per game; Bueckers holds that spot now. Clark was second in minutes per game, Bueckers sits fourth.
In those initial 23 outings, Clark averaged 16.7 points to Bueckers’ 18.5, 7.6 assists against 5.5, and 5.9 rebounds versus 3.9. Bueckers edges out in efficiency: 45% from the field and 34% from deep, compared to Clark’s 39% field goals and matching 34% threes.
Clark’s return date remains unclear, but the silver lining is her teammates rising to the occasion, keeping the Fever (16-12) in playoff position. They’re eyeing a deep run and their first series victory since 2015, when they reached the Finals. Last year’s playoff berth snapped a seven-year dry spell, underscoring Clark’s lasting impact on and off the hardwood.
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