Picking a favorite sounds simple – until the names involved are teammates, former teammates, and league MVPs.
That was the situation Kate Martin found herself in during a recent YouTube interview while discussing Unrivaled and the upcoming WNBA season. The Golden State Valkyries guard had no hesitation praising one specific skill she admires. But when the conversation shifted toward ranking stars like Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and A’ja Wilson in a start-bench-cut scenario, she quickly drew the line.
“First one that comes to my mind is Paige’s mid-range,” Martin said. “It’s like a layup for her. It’s impressive.”
But then she shut it down when it came to the ranking.
“I’m not doing that. You can’t get me caught up. No, thank you.”
The tone shift said everything. Complimenting a skill? Safe. Ranking relationships? Dangerous territory.
Martin’s hesitation is rooted in shared history. She and Clark were teammates at Iowa from 2020 to 2024, leading the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship appearances – falling to LSU in 2023 and South Carolina in 2024. Those deep postseason runs forged a bond that extends beyond basketball, turning any public comparison into a potential loyalty test.
At the same time, Bueckers isn’t just another peer in the league. She’s currently Martin’s teammate on Breeze BC in Unrivaled and widely regarded as one of the most efficient mid-range scorers in the game, shooting over 51 percent inside the arc. Wilson, meanwhile, represents a different tier entirely – an MVP-level superstar and one of the most dominant players in the WNBA.
Choosing between the three would have required Martin to rank a close college friend, a current teammate, and an established league icon. Opting out avoided unnecessary friction while preserving respect across the board.
What it reveals about the Clark-Bueckers spotlight
The moment also underscores a broader reality in women’s basketball. Clark and Bueckers have been linked since their college days, their careers often framed in comparison rather than isolation. Now in the WNBA, that dynamic continues.
Both delivered strong rookie seasons and are set to meet in the 2026 opener between the Indiana Fever and the Dallas Wings – a matchup already circled by fans. Soon after, they’ll share the court again representing USA Basketball at the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Puerto Rico.
That overlap makes comparisons inevitable. Analysts and fans debate rankings freely. Players, however, operate inside those narratives – navigating friendships, team chemistry, and public perception simultaneously.
Martin’s response highlighted that difference. Rather than fuel a debate, she protected relationships. It was less about avoiding competition and more about maintaining respect in a league where rivalries are intense but personal connections run deep.
As Clark and Bueckers continue to compete against each other – and alongside one another internationally – the spotlight will only grow brighter. Their careers may be intertwined by headlines, but inside locker rooms, dynamics are more nuanced than social media polls suggest.
Martin’s refusal to rank them wasn’t evasive. It was intentional. In a league built on both competition and camaraderie, sometimes the smartest answer is knowing when not to answer at all.
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