The talent pool entering the league following the recent WNBA drafts has been frightening. Caitlin Clark entered 2024 as a different beast, and now Paige Bueckers is matching the same energy with the Dallas Wings in 2025, even breaking a few of Clark’s rookie records. Naturally, talk of the Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark rivalry is everywhere, but Bueckers just made an honest admission about Team USA that could change the conversation.
With fans constantly pitting them against each other, the Indiana Fever’s season opener turned into an instant moment with a straight-up match. Yet Paige Bueckers insists the narrative surrounding their match is misunderstood.
Speaking with Kylie Kelce on the Not Gonna Lie PodcastBueckers pointed out that she and Caitlin played together at the junior level and are actually friends.
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“Everyone has pitted Caitlin and I against each other for the longest time, but we’re cool. We’re friends and we understand how the media works.” Bueckers said. This perspective was directly reflected in his admission to the U.S. team, where Bueckers emphasized unity over rivalry when the jerseys changed. She exclaimed, “We’re going to be very proud as the United States to be able to say, ‘Yes, we have the best of the best, don’t we?’ »
Paige Bueckers added that representing the United States at the national team level is the highest honor in women’s basketball, a dream every American WNBA player grows up with. Additionally, the Dallas Wings star pointed out that although she represents rival teams in the WNBA, getting everyone involved in the national setup would allow them and the fans to see them all together representing the United States, which would undoubtedly boast the best in the league.
The U.S. team enters the World Cup qualifiers having already secured its spot in Berlin, allowing the coaching staff to evaluate chemistry and roster combinations rather than chasing qualifying results. This means the national roster can afford to use the playoffs as a testing ground to see which pairings and lineups sync up most effectively within the group of players who will represent them in Puerto Rico.
Caitlin had a severely shortened 2025 season as the Indiana Fever won the Mid-Season Commissioner’s Cup and advanced to the WNBA Semifinals. Bueckers, meanwhile, had a remarkable rookie season, even reaching the All-WNBA 2nd Team in her first season in the league.
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Paige Bueckers was also on fire in her first season on Unrivaled, also winning the $50,000 free throw challenge. Caitlin, meanwhile, is back on the basketball court, with her latest Instagram Story showing her tossing a soccer ball with Indiana Fever development coach Rob Dosier.
Dallas could reunite Paige Bueckers with former UConn teammate Azzi Fudd in the upcoming WNBA Draft
While Paige Bueckers had an outstanding rookie season, the Dallas Wings finished at the bottom of the standings, highlighting how there is still a lot of work to be done on the roster. However, the results of the draft were in their favor, with the Wings securing the first pick for the second year in a row.
Getting Paige Bueckers from the UConn Huskies worked out perfectly for Dallas. However, this time, there are a few candidates to choose from, particularly two very prominent options in UConn star Azzi Fudd and Spanish player Awa Fam.
NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: Louisville at Connecticut December 7, 2024 Brooklyn, New York, USA Connecticut Huskies guard Azzi Fudd 35 and Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers 5 celebrate after the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Barclays Center. Brooklyn Barclays Center New York USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xLucasxBolandx 20241207_LJB_zr4_2455
Awa Fam is known for her passing ability and vision, which is a rare commodity in a center, and could end up becoming a cornerstone of Dallas’ roster alongside Bueckers in the long run. The final comparison can be drawn from the Indiana Fever duo of Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark.
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On the other hand, if the Dallas Wings are aiming for immediate success and better results from the start, Azzi Fudd makes more sense. The duo will retain the chemistry with the Bueckers from their days at UConn. To add to that, adding a shooter like Azzi would complement Bueckers perfectly.
There are other options like Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles at guard who emerged as strong players in the WNBA Draft. If they want to go with a center other than Awa Fam, Lauren Betts has been impressive in women’s college basketball this season. Ultimately, Dallas’ next move will determine whether Bueckers’ sophomore season is about continued individual brilliance or a significant shift toward competition.
The position Paige Bueckers pushes back on Caitlin Clark rivalry talk with honest admission to Team USA appeared first on EssentiallySport.
