There was a crackle in the air when Paige Bueckers faced off against Caitlin Clark. It felt like a different preseason matchup than usual as two of the best point guards in the league went up against each other. Their rivalry has so far been led by Clark, as she won the only regular-season head-to-head game last year. But this season, Bueckers is catching up. The Wings won their preseason game against the Fever and in the WNBA GM’s eyes, Bueckers has surpassed Clark in a key aspect off the court.
The WNBA released a survey where the league’s 15 GMs were asked multiple questions. One of them being, “If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the WNBA, who would it be?” It’s a question gauging the talent ID of the league and who, in the GM’s eyes, will be the ideal base for a championship-level team. They overwhelmingly answered Paige Bueckers, with the Dallas Wings star getting 33% of the votes over 20% for Clark. But despite the growing recognition, Bueckers remained characteristically grounded when addressing the poll.
“Yeah, it’s really cool just to have that mutual respect amongst people who live in this area or live in this space and who really understand the game,” Bueckers said. “And there are so many amazing basketball players to choose from. I feel like there are so many people I would choose to start my team with. So for them to think that highly of me, I’m very grateful, very blessed.”
Paige Bueckers reacts to the annual WNBA GM survey that named her as the top player to launch a franchise: “For them to think that highly of me, I’m very grateful, very blessed.” pic.twitter.com/p36TqLmpDF
— Myah Taylor (@t_myah) May 6, 2026
Last year, before Bueckers stepped into the league, 50% of the GMs answered Caitlin Clark to this question. And rightly so, she was coming off one of the best rookie seasons of all time, averaging 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds while becoming an All-WNBA, All-Star guard breaking the assist record. 2025 flipped the script. Clark played only 13 games through her multiple soft tissue injuries.
And on the other side of the league, Bueckers flourished. She averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 steals as a rookie for the Dallas Wings on 47.7/33.1/88.8 shooting splits and tied the single-game rookie scoring record with 44 points. So, one can see why the GMS changed their approach this year.
They are concerned about whether Caitlin Clark would return to her previous level. And Bueckers is a worthy candidate as well, even beyond her numbers. Like the aforementioned answer shows, she projects calmness and humility. Her leadership qualities are also revered by the Wings and the rest of the league, as she has stepped up in the WNBA and immediately shown that she belonged.
And this poll is an important one, as these are the same GMs that are in charge of decision-making across the league. They have information that the fans and even the media don’t have. So, it seems the league is leaning towards Bueckers over Clark. However, her competition with Clark remains a sporting one, as Bueckers has sent a clear message ahead of her season opener against her.
Paige Bueckers Hails Caitlin Clark As “Generational” Player Ahead Of the Season Opener
When Paige Bueckers arrived to the WNBA, she seemed like the most obvious rival to Caitlin Clark. And any rivalry goes up a notch if there is some personal spice in it. However, that’s not the case when it comes to Clark and Bueckers. Both have heavily praised each other in the past while maintaining that they have a sporting rivalry. Now, the Dallas Wings star has heaped praise on Clark as they prepare to face each other in the season opener.
“Yeah, me and Caitlin Clark have been competing against each other for a long time. I think the greatest way to show respect is to compete and really bring the best out of each other, and I feel like we do that when we’re competing against each other,” Bueckers said.
Playing the same position and being a part of the same freshman class, Clark and Bueckers have always been pitted against each other. They are point guards but conduct the floor in a completely different manner. Clark is a dynamic passer dropping bombs from downtown, while Bueckers is an elegant killer from the midrange while being just as good on every part of the floor. Yet, Bueckers recognizes Clark’s talent.
“We’ve also enjoyed playing together with USA Basketball, so I have great respect for her and what she’s done for the game of basketball and women’s sports in general,” she further said. “She’s a generational player, and every time we take the floor and compete against each other, it’s always a great time.”
The Wings will face off against the Fever to start the season and expect it to be a closer matchup than last year. The Wings have continued to build around Bueckers, adding the likes of Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard while drafting Azzi Fudd. The Fever have retained the talent that got them to the 2025 semifinals while adding Monique Billings and Myisha Hines Allen. This can set the stage for the rest of the season, giving the team that takes the W some momentum, making it a tastier matchup.
