Paige Bueckers is finally addressing the constant media comparisons to Indiana Fever standout Caitlin Clark. Bueckers dominated the Minnesota basketball scene, while Clark made her name in Iowa. The rivalry then continued in college and has now carried over into the WNBA.

While many would understand if Bueckers felt overshadowed by CC during her time at UConn, the former got candid last year and shared how she truly felt about the comparison.

“That’s what the media cares about,” Paige Bueckers told TIME.

"I used to be bothered by it. But I’ve done so much work on myself and my approach. The ability to not run a race in comparison to run my own race and worry about that. Caitlin’s a phenomenal player. We’re also completely different players.”

Even though Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark both play point guard, their styles are completely different.

Paige Bueckers finished her college career shooting 53.1% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range. Caitlin Clark finished at 46.2% from the field and 37.7% from three. However, Clark often took much tougher shots from deep while chasing the NCAA scoring record.

Clark also ran a high-usage offense and averaged 8.2 assists per game, but she also averaged 4.6 turnovers. Bueckers, meanwhile, played a more controlled style. She averaged 4.6 assists while committing just 1.7 turnovers per game.

“At the end of the day, I don’t think either of us really cares about it, because we’re just trying to be the best versions of ourselves.”

Still, even if the former Husky does not pay much attention to the rivalry with Clark, fans remain deeply invested in it. Their excitement even helped make history during the May 9 matchup between the two stars.

Bueckers-Clark Matchup Draws Massive WNBA Viewership

After winning two preseason games, Paige Bueckers carried that momentum into the 2026 WNBA regular season. She delivered a strong performance with 20 points in a thrilling 107-104 victory over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.

Naturally, fans were eager to watch the two stars face each other once again.

As a result, 2.49 million viewers tuned in for their opening weekend showdown, turning it into the second-most-watched regular-season WNBA game ever on ABC or ESPN.

Another reason fans were excited for the matchup was that Bueckers entered the season in better condition than Clark.

Bueckers stayed active during the offseason by playing in Unrivaled and avoided injuries.

Clark, meanwhile, was coming off an injury-filled season and even left the court twice to get her back adjusted while using a supportive device on the bench.

Do you think Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark comparisons are fair, or are their games too different? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Sauramita Debbarma