Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark have been linked since their high school days, climbing through the ranks of elite college basketball before arriving at the WNBA as generational talents. But as Bueckers begins her professional career with the Dallas Wings, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft is drawing a clear line: she’s not here to follow Clark’s path—she’s here to create her own.
In a recent interview, Bueckers acknowledged that the comparisons to Clark once got under her skin. Now, she’s focused on growth, gratitude, and staying grounded.
“The ability to not run a race in comparison, to run my own race and worry about that,” she said. “We’re completely different players… we’re both just trying to be the best versions of ourselves.”
That mindset was displayed after Bueckers made her WNBA preseason debut against the Las Vegas Aces. The stat line—10 points and several smooth playmaking sequences—only told part of the story. The bigger picture was her return to competitive basketball on a new stage, in a new role, surrounded by new teammates.
“It’s super surreal, in terms of the turnaround from where I was two weeks ago to where I’m today,” Bueckers said. “But just soaking it up, enjoying every moment, getting used to new routines, traditions, new teammates, new organization, and just excited to play basketball again with this new group and continue to grow and get better every single day.”
Paige Bueckers is Taking a Measured Approach
Clark’s record-breaking rookie season in 2024 set an almost impossible standard: 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, a league-best 8.4 assists per game, a Rookie of the Year award, and an All-WNBA First Team selection. While the media has eagerly positioned Bueckers as the next star to match—or surpass—those numbers, the UConn product is tuned out from that noise.
“No expectations,” Bueckers said when asked about pressure. “I feel like that comes from an outside source. Just building with the team here, trying to get better every single day. Don’t worry about expectations or set yourself to a ceiling of what you can achieve, just try to be better and win the day.”
She’s taking a process-first approach, focusing on adjusting to the WNBA’s physicality and learning her opponents’ capabilities. That learning curve was evident in her assessment of the game pace and areas for improvement.
“Definitely a fast pace, but just taking time, being where I’m at, learning from my vets and coaches,” Bueckers said. “Screen navigation on defense is a place I want to improve. Also limiting live ball turnovers and getting better matchups on transition defense.”
Even amidst the whirlwind of preseason media attention and early fan buzz, Bueckers isn’t buying into the celebrity status that’s been assigned to her since high school.
“I don’t see myself as a celebrity at all, just a basketball player,” Bueckers said. “We talk amongst players about staying present and being where your feet are. That’s all I really focus on.”
Looking Ahead, On Her Own Terms
The Bueckers-Clark narrative isn’t going away. From their 2021 NCAA Sweet Sixteen clash—where Bueckers and UConn defeated Clark’s Iowa—to Clark’s payback in the 2024 Final Four, their careers will always be entwined. Now, their production is compared since after being No. 1 overall picks.
As for Bueckers, her focus remains internal. “Honestly, there was not a lot of time to prepare,” she said of the whirlwind transition from college to the WNBA. “But just leaning on what’s gotten me here and continuing to build off that.”
Still, there were unmistakable “welcome to the W” moments. “When I tried to take that charge, that was my welcome to the W,” she said with a laugh, recalling her attempt to draw contact from an Olympic-level player on the Aces roster.
Dallas opens its regular season later this month, but all eyes will be on June 27, when Bueckers and Clark meet in their first official WNBA showdown. Until then, Bueckers is focused on learning the pro game, building chemistry, and carving out her place in the league—not as the next Caitlin Clark, but as the first Paige Bueckers.
