When Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark first burst onto the college scene in 2020, it was obvious we were watching something special. Two completely different paths, two insane talents. Bueckers came in as ESPNW’s top-ranked recruit and picked UConn. Clark, who was ranked No. 4, didn’t get the same love from Geno and company, so she stayed home and chose Iowa (she would have otherwise, too).
But from the jump, both were problem children for opponents—putting up wild numbers, pulling crowds, and making plays you had to rewind to believe.
Caitlin Clark’s record under threat
Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers just bagged her first WNBA All-Star selection—and it’s a big one. She’s the only player in the league ranking top 10 in points, assists, and steals this season. The numbers? A solid 18.2 PPG, 5.5 assists, 4 boards, and 1.7 steals while shooting nearly 45% from the field. She’s even knocking down threes at 32.3%. And if you think that’s impressive enough for a rookie—well, she just added another milestone to her growing resume.
Polymarket Hoops posted on X—Paige Bueckers just notched her 10th game with at least 15 points and 5 assists, giving her the second-highest total for such games by a rookie in WNBA history. The only player ahead of her? Caitlin Clark, who racked up 30 of those games during her debut season. What makes Paige’s milestone even more impressive is the pace—she’s reached this in just 21 games. For comparison, Clark had 12 of those 15-and-5 performances through her first 21 outings.
Most games with 15+ PTS & 5+ AST by a rookie:
30 — Caitlin Clark
10 — Paige Bueckers https://t.co/Kxhq4c0oD9
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) July 26, 2025
The Paige-Caitlin era kicked off in their freshman year, when Geno Auriemma would go on to say: “It’s been a while since you’ve had two kids that have had this kind of an impact, both on their teams and on the game itself nationally.” While they matched that year, taking their teams to Final, by 2023-24, Clark went full video game. The reigning ROTY scored 1,183 points at 32 a night, while Bueckers, coming off an ACL recovery, averaged a clean 20 PPG on 54% shooting.
Now in the WNBA, the spotlight hasn’t dimmed—it’s just shifted. Clark’s rookie year was historic. She averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and led the league in dimes and threes. She even finished fourth in MVP voting. But now it’s Paige’s turn—and she’s not playing catch-up.
The comparisons may have been dismissed, but Paige Bueckers is catching up
Entering her rookie season, few believed the Caitlin Clark vs Paige Bueckers comparisons felt necessary. “I don’t think we can have Piage on that kind of pedestal. I don’t think we should put that kind of pressure on Paige,” Rachel DeMita had stated after articles questioned if the UConn stand would have the same impact as Clark. One came from a team filled with five-star prospects, another had led the team throughout.
But just 16 games into her rookie season, Paige Bueckers had broken multiple of Clark’s own records.
She hit 250 points faster (13 games vs Clark’s 16)
Tied her as the fastest to 300 points and 100 assists
Is on track to join Clark in the rare 700 points/200 assists rookie club.
And the kicker? Paige is doing it with way fewer turnovers—2.2 per game compared to Clark’s 5.5. Her midrange is hitting at a league-best 58.2%, and she’s leading Dallas with confidence. Clark’s strength has always been her range and playmaking. Bueckers? She’s smooth, steady, and surgical. Even Clark admits it: “She’s confident, she’s smooth, she just does everything at a high level.”
Moreover, the Wings rookie already holds the record as the fastest guard since 1997 to reach 250 points, 50 assists, and 50 rebounds. In other case, Clark made a three in every single game of her rookie year—40 games straight. Can Bueckers match that? Well, with a 42% college clip from three, she’s every bit the efficient sniper.
So who’s the more “complete” player? That’s up for debate. One is volume, the other is precision. What we do know? They’re both rewriting what it means to be a guard in the WNBA—and we’re lucky to be watching it unfold in real time.
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