Fans expected a highlight-heavy linkup between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers at the 2025 WNBA All-Star game. Instead, Bueckers landed on Team Collier. And just like that, the chatter began. Was this a snub? Was there beef? Or was it something else entirely?
Thing is, it wasn’t drama for drama’s sake. This time, it felt like a chess move. Clark didn’t go all-in on popularity or nostalgia. She played it smart. Looked at team fit. Balance. Size. And that’s where the real story unfolded. Because this wasn’t just about who got picked. It was about how Clark picked.. and what that said about her.
In a recent episode of the No Offseason: The Athletic Women’s Basketball Show, reporter Sabrina Merchant broke it down while replying to Ben Picker’s- “I think it would have been fun to see Caitlyn and Paige also play together..knowing that opportunity was sitting there.”, by quoting- ” Yeah, I appreciated Caitlyn’s commitment to actually trying to build a real basketball roster and realizing the size deficiencies of playing Caitlyn, Paige, and Sabrina all together in a starting lineup.” That’s not just strategy. That’s vision. And it quietly boosted Clark’s case as an All-Star leader.
Apr 5, 2024; Cleveland, OH, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark (22) and Connecticut Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) react in the second quarter in the semifinals of the Final Four of the womens 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Turns out, Clark’s moves were deliberate from the jump. While Collier scooped up Bueckers, Merchant added “Sabrina… did the nice thing and let Nfisa have Paige.” And Clark responded by taking Gabby Williams later- “didn’t let her have all the Yukon girlies.” This wasn’t about avoiding Bueckers. It was Clark building a balanced team, even if it meant passing on a flashy pairing.
Her stats back it all up: 17.4 points, 5 rebounds, 8.6 assists per game. Bueckers has been stellar too- 18.1 points, 5.4 assists, 4.1 boards, but Clark’s impact goes beyond the box score. She didn’t just break the fan vote record with 1.29 million votes. She obliterated it. Yet the players? Ranked her ninth among guards. That’s where this “snub” flipped the script. Instead of crying foul, Clark doubled down on basketball IQ. That quiet flex? It might’ve said more than any buzzer-beater.
So maybe not picking Paige wasn’t some misstep. Maybe it was Clark proving she’s not just hype. She’s a builder. A strategist. A rookie already thinking like a vet. And ironically, the snub might’ve given her the strongest case yet for why she deserves to be leading this weekend’s biggest showcase.
All-Star selection controversy: recognition vs. performance
The split on Clark’s All-Star selection exposed something bigger: the league’s struggle to define what truly matters. Clark crushed the fan vote, but landed ninth in player voting. That gap? It says a lot about where the league is… and where it’s headed.
Bueckers, meanwhile, had the most balanced vote of any guard- second with fans, fifth with media, fourth with players. It made her the top-ranked guard overall. To some, that was proof of all-around respect. To others, Clark’s dip showed cracks in the system.
May 19, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks on during the second half against the Seattle Storm at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The W’s weighted voting- 50 percent fans, 25 percent media, 25 percent players, was supposed to bridge popularity and performance. But it’s clear that the equation’s still messy. Should we honor the players who put up the stats? Or the ones pulling in crowds and pushing the league forward?
This year’s All-Star drama didn’t just reveal roster politics. It revealed what’s really at stake: legacy, respect, and how we define greatness in a league on the rise.
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