Paige Bueckers made many eyes roll at her when she claimed that the Unrivaled League is way more physical than the W. Bueckers had a brief interview with Candace Parker during the break of the Breeze BC vs. Phantom BC on Monday, and was asked by the veteran as to what the biggest difference she felt between the two leagues.
Surprisingly, Bueckers pointed out that it was not the mere rules or even the number of players on the court, but the difference in physicality that shocked her. Bueckers’ remarks obviously led to a wave of opinions from fans and analysts, with some nodding along with her, while others are brutally roasting her online.
“What’s the biggest adjustment switching from 5v5 to 3v3? Yeah, I think the physicality, one. Y’all know the W is physically, but the Unrivaled is even more physical than that, and then not being able to have help side…you’re basically on an island. So at points you’re gonna be okay with being cooked but that’s not to say you’re not gonna…try to just defend on an island and guard your yard and keep people in front of you. But at the same time these are the best women in the world and you’re competing against them, so…that’s a lot different, for sure.” Paige Bueckers said.
Paige Bueckers says the WNBA is physical but UNRIVALED is more physical. pic.twitter.com/1j7swIjrRi https://t.co/QwontKyb2g
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 6, 2026
Even if she might have felt that the Unrivaled is way more physical than the W, Paige Bueckers still managed to make her very first game in the league a major success. Bueckers chalked up a total of 24 points for Breeze BC against the Phantom BC, etching the first win for the team in this second season of the league.
Paige Bueckers’ Defense-Skills Ridiculed By Candace Parker
Paige Bueckers has easily proven herself to be an incredibly talented player, right from the moment she set foot onto the court. However, there still seem to be plenty of naysayers who feel that the player needs plenty of improvement on her side. In a postgame show of Unrivaled, Candace Parker managed to deride Bueckers’ defensive skills, refusing to call her a two-way player, which earned the wrath of many fans online.
“Not a two-way player yet! She’s plating a little defense,” Candace Parker said about Paige Bueckers.
For her comments, Parker has been trolled mercilessly by many fans online, who feel that Bueckers is indeed a two-way talent on the court. This is just one of many controversial remarks that Parker has made over these last few months.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
