The primary WNBA matchup between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers wasn’t only a matchup; it was a second years within the making.
Inside a sold-out Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday afternoon, Clark’s Indiana Fever pulled away from Bueckers and the Dallas Wings for a 102–83 victory, as two of the sport’s most recognizable younger stars shared the ground for the primary time as WNBA execs.
Clark posted 14 factors, 13 assists, 5 steals, and 7 deflections in an entire efficiency that showcased her impression as a two-way playmaker. Bueckers, who shouldered a lot of the offensive burden for Dallas, led the Wings with 21 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and two steals. Whereas the Fever improved to 11-10, Dallas fell to 6-16, ending their three-game highway journey with out a win.
For Fever head coach Stephanie White, seeing Bueckers in a WNBA setting solely strengthened what was lengthy apparent about her sport.
“She at all times stays impartial. She doesn’t get rushed — her tempo, her poise, her decision-making are all actually spectacular,” White mentioned. “While you play somebody who’s high-IQ and elite in all areas, and also you attempt to make them uncomfortable and so they nonetheless preserve their circulation — that’s the distinction between good gamers and nice gamers. And she or he’s solely a handful of video games in. It’s enjoyable to look at — simply not as an opponent.”
Caitlin Clark sidestep three 🔥
our 64 factors are essentially the most by any staff in a half this season. pic.twitter.com/sZiL8IUhwY
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) July 13, 2025
Historical past of a Rivalry
Clark and Bueckers have lengthy been linked. Their tales have been related for the reason that NCAA Match and past, courting again to their time as teammates on Workforce USA youth squads. In 2017, the duo gained gold on the FIBA Americas U16 Championship. Two years later, they shared the ground once more for Workforce USA on the U19 World Cup in Bangkok, the place Bueckers earned MVP honors within the championship sport.
They first met in NCAA Match play within the 2021 Candy 16, the place Bueckers’ UConn staff defeated Clark’s Iowa squad 92–72. Bueckers was practically flawless, ending with 18 factors, 9 rebounds, and eight assists. Their extremely anticipated rematch got here three years afterward the most important stage, the 2024 Ultimate 4, with Clark and Iowa edging UConn 71–69 behind a signature clutch efficiency.
Now, as WNBA friends, their careers proceed to run parallel. But Bueckers has by no means considered Clark as a measuring stick. As an alternative, she sees her as a trailblazer navigating unprecedented strain.
Paige Bueckers was an absolute downside in HS 😧😧 pic.twitter.com/uklVynXhur
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 6, 2025
Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark Have Excessive Reward for One One other
“Caitlin introduced a lot new consideration to the rise of girls’s faculty basketball and the WNBA and girls’s sports activities basically,” Bueckers mentioned. “I really feel like the burden of the world is on her shoulders. And she or he simply has this heavy burden to hold and he or she does it with grace and humility.”
She acknowledged the extreme scrutiny Clark faces every evening.
“The strain that she’s placed on each single evening to carry out on the degree that she does, it’s inhumane, actually, to anticipate individuals to be good and to not have off video games or off nights,” Bueckers mentioned. “If she doesn’t go 8 for 10 from three, persons are questioning issues. It’s unfair to should cope with that. However I’m positive she has an ideal staff round her and nice individuals to assist her.”
Even amid the competitors, Bueckers made it clear she’s targeted on her personal path, and respects Clark for doing the identical.
“The flexibility to not run a race as compared, to run my very own race and fear about that,” Buckers mentioned. “Caitlin’s an exceptional participant. We’re each simply attempting to be one of the best variations of ourselves.”
A complete new period of guards 🔥
Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Hailey Van Lith are all drafted now. pic.twitter.com/hCUqAGoIWD
— FIBA Basketball (@FIBA) April 15, 2025
Tactical Battle on the Flooring
These matchups laid the groundwork for Sunday’s assembly, and the kinds remained constant. Clark performed with tempo and quantity, dissecting Dallas’ protection in transition and pick-and-roll.
“I believed my playmaking was actually good,” Clark mentioned. “There was actually no motive for me to shoot that a lot. We had been firing on all cylinders, transferring the ball effectively, moving into the following motion, enjoying effectively out of the pick-and-roll.”
Bueckers, in the meantime, stayed regular by Indiana’s traps and exhausting closeouts, making reads beneath strain and retaining Dallas afloat with well timed buckets and mature decision-making. She was environment friendly and made essentially the most of her touches within the half-court, even scoring on some post-ups and in actions when getting the ball on the transfer.
“I nonetheless really feel like I may’ve taken care of the ball higher,” Bueckers mentioned postgame. “However simply making the correct learn out of the lure, out of them setting a double, after which enjoying to that benefit.”
“Simply bringing two to the ball … creates a bonus for us on the bottom enjoying 4 in opposition to three,” she continued. “So simply studying that — when to make use of a ball display, when to not, when to simply get out in area … that’s the place I need to develop.”
Clark’s Defensive Presence Adjustments Sport
Indiana’s defensive scheme was aggressive. The Fever stayed connected to Bueckers on ghost flares, blitzed her in pick-and-rolls, and made a concerted effort to drive turnovers and leak out in transition. Clark set the tone with a steal on Bueckers within the opening quarter, then picked off a number of extra passes by leaping the passing lane.
“I knew my staff was prepared in a lure on the sideline, so I simply made a learn,” Clark mentioned. “I noticed she was going to throw it to her put up participant and was capable of get my hand on it. Then I obtained a couple of deflections. I believe simply being lively — I could be a actually good defender after I select to and after I work exhausting at it, not conserving vitality. I’m happy with myself in that regard.”
Dallas jumped out to a 16–11 lead behind Bueckers’ early scoring, Li Yueru’s brief roll jumper, and Aziaha James’ well timed taking pictures. However Indiana erupted for 36 factors within the second quarter alone, fueled by stops, deflections, and environment friendly offense.
The Fever shot 76.2% within the interval and outscored Dallas 36–15 to construct a 64–42 halftime lead, which proved to be essentially the most factors allowed in a half by any WNBA staff this season.
Sharing the Ball, Controlling the Sport
Clark completed with 13 assists and helped orchestrate a Fever offense that recorded 30 assists on 40 made area objectives. White highlighted the staff’s selflessness and stability.
“We took care of the ball. We scored 23 factors off turnovers. I believed we rebounded pretty effectively and scored within the paint,” White mentioned. “Once more, it’s about constructing consistency. We have now to place 40 minutes collectively to get to the place we need to be.”
Clark echoed that emphasis on shared accountability and staff cohesion. She pointed to Indiana’s selfless fashion of play as the important thing to their offensive explosion.
“That’s about pretty much as good because it will get,” she mentioned. “It exhibits the selflessness of this group — at all times attempting to get to the following motion, hand over a very good shot for an ideal one. It makes us exhausting to protect.”
Clark and Bueckers will meet once more on August 1 when the Fever go to Dallas at American Airways Middle and as opposing teammates All-Star weekend.
