Paige Bueckers has praised Caitlin Clark, admiring her capacity to handle pressure with grace and humility.
At just 22, Clark is on top of the world following a sensational obliteration of several WNBA records in her 2024 rookie season with the Indiana Fever. The Iowa alumna came into the season with sky-high expectations after being chosen as the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Fever.
Clark not only steered her team to its first playoff appearance in eight years but also did so with panache, ending the regular season averaging 19.2 points, a league-topping 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. She shattered records too, sinking a league-best 122 three-pointers and becoming the quickest player in WNBA history to hit over 100.
Her outstanding performance earned her the WNBAs Rookie of the Year title, with 66 out of 67 votes cast in her favor the remaining vote went to Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky. Bueckers, 23, who has faced Clark on the court multiple times during their college days, including a nail-biting encounter at this years Final Four where Clarks Iowa Hawkeyes edged out Bueckers Connecticut Huskies 71-69, knows her prowess all too well.
The UConn student hasnt shied away from expressing her deep respect for Clarks rapid ascent to fame. In a conversation with Fox Sports, Bueckers shared: Caitlin brought so much new attention to the rise of womens college basketball and the WNBA and womens sports in general, reports the Irish Star.
Paige Bueckers has made a mark at collegiate level (
Getty Images)
I feel like the weight of the world is on her shoulders. She acknowledged the immense pressure Clark faces, praising her by saying: She does it with grace and humility. As Bueckers kicks off her season with the Huskies, she might soon experience similar limelight if she becomes the WNBAs top draft pick in 2025 a move that would send the point guard to the Dallas Wings post-college.
Bueckers, clearly marked for stardom, has already collected an impressive array of awards and honors at the junior level. The prodigious talent boasts FIBA gold medals at U19, U17, and U16 levels, not to mention a gold medal from the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina with the USAs 3×3 basketball team.