The 2025 WNBA season is shaping up to be one of the most electrifying ones, thanks to two generational talents in Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. No wonder both No.1 overall picks have become the center of inevitable comparison and attention. As the standout player of the Indiana Fever, Clark stepped into the league with her raw aggression and delivered. Her presence was marked by media frenzy and national attention to the W. On the other hand is the UConn phenom, Paige Bueckers, who has carved a spot in the Dallas Wings with a resilient outlook and calm demeanor.
Still fresh in the league, Clark and Bueckers have left a significant impression in the pros so far. As Bueckers’ former UConn teammate, Azzi Fudd’s father, put it, “the two are as different as Michael Jordan and LeBron James.” In a league where surviving is anything but easy, with all the media attention and fan pressure, Bueckers has done an impeccable job in that regard. As the new kid on the block takes the league by storm, she has set her sights on becoming one of the all-time greats.
On the other hand, Clark’s sophomore run was marked by her exceptional court vision and shooting prowess. But now, the 2024 ROTY has hit a rough patch, one she is struggling to get out of. Regardless of that, she is still considered one of the best players, if not the best, in the league. And her follower base just keeps on increasing, as she is striving to put the WNBA on the global map, almost single-handedly. Clark and Bueckers are both generational talents, and no doubt, they will go on to have legendary duels in the coming years.
In a recent clip that is doing the rounds on the internet, Paige Bueckers spoke glowingly about Caitlin Clark. She admitted being inspired by CC, especially the way she handles all the pressure. “She handles it with grace, the pressure she’s put on every single night to perform at the level that she does. It’s inhumane to expect people to be perfect…it’s unfair…I know she’s a great person at handling it.”
Paige on the scrutiny Caitlin faces
“She handles it with grace the pressure she’s put on every single night to perform at the level that she does. It’s inhumane to expect people to be perfect…it’s unfair…I know she’s a great person at handling it.” pic.twitter.com/edbil9WZFH
— correlation (@nosyone4) June 26, 2025
In the first clip, Bueckers talks about Clark’s exceptional performance despite personal setbacks. “If she doesn’t go like 8-for-10 from three, people are questioning things,” the Wings guard said. She defended Clark on the recent criticism the Fever star has been receiving lately. “It’s unfair,” she shrugged. “But I’m sure she has a great team, great people around her to help her. I know she’s a great person, dealing with it.”
In the second clip, Bueckers openly admitted that every player has to deal with the scrutiny of fans, as it is part and parcel of their profession. “It’s just uncomfortable,” she started. “Every single player has to deal with it in some shape or form. It’s like, in NBA it’s way worse, but you just deal with it. It’s just a great responsibility, I have to be able to bear that.”
Well, the Wings rookie is no stranger to that treatment from fans. Every time her team loses a game, fans are quick to jump on the bandwagon and blame the players. She further highlighted the problems posed by social media and how she deals with the online negativity. “For me, I just try to stay off social media just as much as possible,” Paige revealed. “Just not to allow that stuff in my psyche and in my brain. I just stay level-headed stay present because truly none of those opinions matter. They only affect them if you let them affect you. So, just protect my peace, protect my joy. Let nobody, no opinions, no narratives affect me.”
Bueckers and Clark also have one other commonality: both of their respective teams are in a pretty bad run of form. Point in case, the Fever’s loss to the Sparks and the Dallas’s loss to the Mystics.
The Dallas Wings land in a sticky loss against the Washington Mystics
After winning two straight games this season, the Dallas Wings suffered an unexpected 91-88 loss at the hands of the Washington Mystics. Paige Bueckers’ catch-and-shoot three-pointer in the dying seconds made the score 84-84, taking the game to overtime. But Dallas’s luck finally ran out then, as the Wizards ran away with a 91-88 victory.
“I mean, I think we can be better in special situations down the stretch here,” Dallas Wings HC said about his team’s shortcomings. Despite ending with 38 rebounds, the Wings delivered an underwhelming performance with a total of 19 turnovers, 37.5% of field goal shots, and 32% successful three-pointers against an aggressively young roster.
On the other hand, Mystics rookie Sonia Citron led the team to an impressive win. She delivered a career-high performance with 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists in the game. And if that was not enough, Citron made a 23-foot three-point jumper with just 12:02 seconds, and sealed the victory for the Mystics.
Wings players Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington struggled in the second half. Ultimately, Ogunbowale finished with 27 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists as Paige Bueckers added 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists to revive the roster. Despite showcasing flashes of excellence in the first half, the team lost its head when it mattered the most and suffered another avoidable defeat.
As the Wings prepare to face the Indiana Fever on Friday, they’ll need to massively step up their game. Although the Fever themselves are not exactly in great form, they have individuals who can turn a game on their head single-handedly. With Caitlin Clark’s availability still not confirmed, it will be a great opportunity for Bueckers and Dallas to get a victory there and get some wind under their sails. Who do you think will triumph in this mouth-watering encounter? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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