Paige Bueckers has been in the spotlight before, but her 44-point explosion for the Dallas Wings against the Los Angeles Sparks pushed her into new territory. Shooting 17-of-21 from the field, the rookie not only tied Cynthia Cooper‘s mark for most points by a first-year player but also became the first in WNBA history to hit 40 points while making at least 80 percent of her shots.
Her breakout performance, however, sparked more than just admiration. It triggered a conversation about the WNBA’s direction – and Draymond Green was quick to weigh in.
Draymond questions ESPN’s choice of star
The day after Bueckers‘ record-setting night, the league announced it had officially broken its single-season attendance record with more than 2.5 million fans. ESPN marked the milestone with a celebratory post – but instead of the usual image of Caitlin Clark, the league’s biggest draw, the post featured Bueckers.
That detail caught the attention of Green.
“So I just came across this post on ESPNW IG… and I found the picture interesting,” he wrote on Threads. “Is there a shift happening?”
Later, responding to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Green doubled down, stressing his focus was on ESPN’s choice of imagery.
“They spoke of all time attendance and showed Paige, who plays for Dallas but doesn’t have top 3 in attendance,” Green pointed out. “Is Paige quickly becoming the face of The W?”
Statistics from Across the Timeline show Dallas currently ranks 11th in average attendance, while Indiana, Clark‘s team, sits second, behind only the expansion Golden State Valkyries.
Clark vs Bueckers: a rivalry that keeps growing
Although Green never named Clark directly, the connection was obvious to fans. For the past two seasons, Clark has been the face of nearly every WNBA milestone – from television viewership to merchandise sales. Her transition to the professional stage has been billed as a watershed moment for the league.
But injuries have limited her appearances in 2025, leaving room for other stars to capture headlines. Bueckers, meanwhile, has seized the moment with record-breaking performances and a relentless scoring streak that has pulled her into conversations once dominated exclusively by Clark.
The two have been linked for years. Both were ranked among the top recruits in their high school class, starred in college basketball, and were drafted No. 1 overall in consecutive seasons – Clark to the Indiana Fever in 2024 and Bueckers to the Wings in 2025.
Their rivalry peaked in the 2024 NCAA Final Four, when Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes narrowly edged Bueckers’ UConn Huskies 71-69. Clark finished with 21 points, while Bueckers added 17 in a battle that foreshadowed their roles in the WNBA.
Now, with Clark temporarily out of the spotlight and Bueckers posting historic numbers, the debate over who truly represents the league’s future has intensified.
A league at a crossroads
For the WNBA, the question isn’t whether both stars can coexist – it’s how the league chooses to promote them. Clark has been the catalyst for record attendance and national attention, while Bueckers is quickly emerging as a generational talent in her own right.
Green‘s remarks may have been casual, but they underscored a deeper discussion about how the league balances its marketing and storytelling. The focus on Bueckers, despite Dallas’ modest attendance, suggests a willingness to highlight more than one star in shaping the league’s narrative.
Whether this marks a true passing of the torch or simply a momentary spotlight, Bueckers‘ rise ensures the WNBA’s future is no longer about one name alone.
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