With the departure of former Iowa Hawkeyes standout Caitlin Clark to the WNBA, many are now asserting that UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers has emerged as the top player in women’s college basketball. Clark has had a tremendous impact on women’s sports over the past few years, significantly boosting both college basketball and WNBA viewership to new heights.
Throughout her career, she became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, with 3,951 points—surpassing the legendary Pete Maravich. On Sunday, ahead of the 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery, where Bueckers is widely anticipated to be the No. 1 pick, Fox Sports honored Clark’s remarkable Iowa career. The segment included accolades from several prominent figures in basketball, including Bueckers, who praised the Indiana Fever star. “Caitlin has attracted so much new attention to the growth of women’s college basketball, the WNBA, and women’s sports overall,” Bueckers remarked. “It feels like she carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, but she does so with grace and humility.”
The generational talent, @CaitlinClark22, changed the landscape of college basketball 🙌
Look back on her journey with @IowaWBB and the stories from teammates, coaches and opponents ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/HlFxivyVqv
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) November 17, 2024
Clark and Bueckers faced off for the second and final time in college during the 2024 Final Four, where the Hawkeyes triumphed over the Huskies with a score of 71-69. Both players delivered standout performances, with Clark contributing 21 points, seven assists, and nine rebounds, while Bueckers recorded 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists. In her inaugural season in the WNBA, Clark’s game transitioned seamlessly from college, as she shattered the single-season assists record and became the highest-scoring rookie in league history. Additionally, she helped the Fever secure their first playoff berth since 2016.
Bueckers has one year of eligibility remaining after the 2024-25 season. However, she is generally expected to forgo that final year and enter the 2025 WNBA draft. If she does declare, the Dallas Wings would be in a prime position to select her with the top pick, thanks to their lottery win on Sunday.
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