When I first read “first among equals,” only one name came to mind – and yes, it was Caitlin Clark. But it wasn’t just her nine-plus rookie records that made me jump to that conclusion. It’s because she came out of the 2020 women’s basketball recruiting class – arguably the most influential in the sport’s history – and managed to both meet and exceed the sky-high expectations that came with it. Just think about it, when CC was being recruited, she shared that top-tier space with elite names like Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, and Kamilla Cardoso. And, each of them went on to become household names and record-breakers in their own right. So the fact that Clark continues to outshine even that elite group? That’s why she’s truly first among equals. But does everyone agree?

It all comes up with Indiana Fever HC Stephanie White showing up courtside wearing Clark’s sold-out Nike Kobe V Protro Player Edition sneakers – on the same night her team faced the defending champs, the Lynx, in the Commissioner’s Cup Final. Early on, it looked like Minnesota was about to repeat, taking the first-quarter lead and playing like seasoned winners. But then, the Fever flipped the script by tightening its defense and then holding the Lynx to a season-low seven points in the second quarter. And finally, Fever pulled away with a commanding 74-59 win and a hefty $500,000 prize pool, and perhaps more significantly, Clark became the first player from her 2020 high school class to win a WNBA title of any kind.

Only 1 of the top 5 players from the 2020 HS recruiting class has won a championship of any kind in the WNBA

Paige Bueckers
Angel Reese
Cameron Brink
Caitlin Clark
Kamilla Cardoso pic.twitter.com/5UT4z7XsD6

— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) July 2, 2025

And remember, this happened without Clark even suiting up as she missed the game due to a lingering groin injury. But no one has to vouch for her, as she has already made her impact felt, especially against the Liberty and Sun that helped Indiana punch their ticket to the final. So yes, Clark may have been sidelined, but the team’s performance was a direct result of the foundation she helped build. Still, not everyone is ready to crown her just yet!

W’s Community debate for crowning CC as first among 2020 HS Recruits!

As the post about CC being first in the 2020 HS recruits went viral on social media, the W community dove into the comment section and delivered their unique takes. “She never even played in the game so she didn’t even win the championship nice try,” penned a user. And yes, they are right. The Indiana Fever entered the finals against the Lynx without their superstar, Caitlin Clark, as she was officially ruled out due to a persistent groin injury.

This marked her third straight missed game due to the left groin issue and her eighth absence of the season after a previous left quadriceps injury had limited her. Now, she’s restricted in practice, doing non-contact shooting as the team made precautionary decisions to rest her. So, you know why she didn’t play in the finals. But while she didn’t take the court, she celebrated it to the fullest in the locker room, popping party poppers with the team.

This led to a user comparing CC’s feat to that of Tyrese Haliburton. “Must be an Indiana thing,” the user penned while reposting a shot of Haliburton holding the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal. That was when the Indiana Pacers’ superstar fell victim to the numbers game on Team USA – a squad full of superstars. While he didn’t contribute much, logging only 26 minutes across three of six games en route to gold, he’s still an Olympic gold medalist.

Similarly, while CC didn’t play in the finals, she’s still a Commissioner’s Cup champion. And no doubt, that’s true. But was it even possible to reach the finals without CC? Well, this user put it best: “And before the haters flock in LET IT BE KNOWN—without CC going off in the Liberty game we never would’ve made it to the final game.”

The Fever went 4-1 in Cup play to secure their spot in the final, with CC featured in two key wins after returning from her quadriceps injury. She exploded for a career-high 32 points – 25 of those in the first half – along with seven three-pointers, nine assists, and eight rebounds in a dominant performance against the New York Liberty. That game handed New York its first loss of the season.

Jul 20, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Team WNBA guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles against USA Women’s National Team during the WNBA All Star Game at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Even in their Cup qualifier against the Sun, CC dropped 20 points and six assists in 29 minutes, shooting 6-of-12 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc to help the Fever secure another crucial win. That’s how Indiana paved their way to the Commissioner’s Cup Final. So yes – she was instrumental in their Cup championship run.

“Wow Clark is the only one from the top 5 2020 HS class to make the playoffs in the WNBA AND win a championship of any kind in the WNBA,” another user wrote. Well, yes. Not only did Clark lead the Fever to their first postseason appearance since 2016, but it also marked her personal WNBA playoff debut. Though she exited in the first round, it was still a feat. Notably, Brink was injured then, and teammates Cardoso and Reese missed the playoffs entirely, while Bueckers wasn’t in the W yet. So yes, it makes sense.

But while everything seems to speak in Clark’s favor, there’s one thing that makes her the odd one out, not in a positive sense. “Only one in the top five also doesn’t have a ring,” penned another user. Well, they are referring to an NCAA championship ring. As of April 2025, all of them had won at least one NCAA national title except Caitlin Clark. While Bueckers finally captured her ring with UConn in 2025, Reese and Cardoso had earned theirs with LSU (2023) and South Carolina (2022/2024), respectively. Brink took hers with Stanford in 2021.

But that doesn’t mean Clark is any less – because she still became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer and a back-to-back National Player of the Year. Right?

The post Caitlin Clark’s Cup Win Reignites Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese Trophy Debate From 2020 High School Class appeared first on EssentiallySports.