Even going again to their school days, Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark have at all times been in contrast to one another. Clark took school basketball by storm, whereas Bueckers was sidelined with a knee damage. Then Clark in her rookie season established herself as among the finest gamers within the league, whereas Bueckers broke by and led UConn to a different nationwide championship.
Now, each gamers are within the league, however each had very totally different seasons. Clark battled a nagging groin damage the entire 12 months, and struggled together with her effectivity, whereas Bueckers was far and away the most effective rookie in her class.
This has brought about the 2 to roped into debate once more about who the higher participant is. Nonetheless, it’s a bit unfair that that is even a dialog within the first place.
It’s troublesome to straight examine Clark and Bueckers
For starters, the 2 have two fully totally different playstyles. Clark is extra of a pure level guard than Bueckers, and is a pass-first participant that has unbelievable vary from three. Bueckers is a bucket-getter, who lives within the mid-range, and has quite a lot of methods of scoring.
Along with that, it’s type of robust to evaluate Clark off of this season. She performed solely 13 video games, and was clearly hampered in most of them. Nonetheless, she nonetheless averaged virtually 17 factors per recreation, and 9 assists per recreation.
The Fever have been capable of survive with out her, and did advance previous the primary spherical of the playoffs, however that may be a testomony to the staff reinventing their id on the fly. For Bueckers, she thrived in a scoring function with the Wings. She exploded for 44 factors in opposition to the Sparks in August, and shot 81% from the sector within the course of.
Bueckers additionally had 17 video games with not less than 20 factors, and on the season, she was environment friendly, capturing 48 p.c from the sector total. She did develop as a passer because the season went on and saved her turnovers low.
Clark and Bueckers are set to be the WNBA’s greatest gamers
Each gamers haven’t solely proven that they belong within the league, however that they’ve the potential to be superstars. Clark is on tempo to be arguably develop into the league’s best shooter of all-time. Bueckers’ versatility is barely rising, and even with quite a lot of expertise on the high of the W, she has the potential to be the most effective participant within the league for many of her prime.
Each guards are at all times going to be in contrast to one another. There is no such thing as a escaping it. However, they shouldn’t be within the first place, since they each carry one thing totally different to the desk.
