Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers met on the court for the first time as professionals in a landmark moment for the WNBA, but one that managed to end in controversy as fans got upset with ESPN.
The matchup ended in a dominant 19-point victory for the Indiana Fever over the Dallas Wings; thanks in large part to Clark‘s season-high 13 assists on the night, which she backed up with 14 points, five steals and three rebounds.
However, ESPN’s halftime coverage took a controversial turn drawing criticism from fans who accused the network of undermining 23-year-old’s contributions while overly emphasizing her rookie counterpart’s struggles.
At halftime, the Fever held a commanding lead, thanks to a franchise-record 64 points in the first half and a 36-point second quarter. Despite the Wings falling behind by a wide margin, ESPN’s analysts focused heavily on Bueckers‘ lack of support from her teammates.
“Caitlin Clark‘s got help, Paige Bueckers needs more of it,” one ESPN commentator stated during the halftime broadcast and fans were not particularly happy, suggesting it took away from the Fever star’s performance.
Many fans argued the analysis was misleading, particularly given that Dallas had four players score in double figures, only one fewer than Indiana and the reaction on social media was swift.
One fan pointed out, “Clark got them help with 7 first-half assists. Wings are not a good team, and Paige doesn’t make her team better. She’s a great basketball player, but it hasn’t translated to making her team better.”
A second said, “Clark makes the players around her better. That’s the difference. These hating ass women just hating to hate.”
And a third comented, “How much help does she need? Arike and Haley, and Paige are not only NCAA champions but MVPs, All-Americans, and Top 10 picks.
“McGowan and James were also the best players on their Final Four teams. Haley and Paige were #1 out of high school. They need better coaching.”
Both Bueckers and Clark star on the night
Her playmaking was crucial in distributing the ball and opening up scoring opportunities across the floor. With five Indiana players reaching double digits, fans argued that the so-called “help” was a result of her court vision.
Meanwhile, Bueckers delivered a solid performance with 21 points and 4 assists. She also made history by becoming the fastest player since Diana Taurasi in 2004 to tally 300 points, 50 assists, and 50 rebounds in a rookie season.
However, her efforts weren’t enough to prevent the Wings from falling to a 6-16 record despite their impressive roster, which includes a lineup of highly decorated players, including the four-time WNBA All-Star Arike Ogunbowale, and former college standouts like Haley Jones and Aziaha James.
Read the full article here
