As Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark remains the subject of endless media attention and growing scrutiny, Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers has her back.
“I would just say she handles it with grace,” Bueckers, 24, told reporters after a practice on Tuesday, June 2. “And the pressure she’s put on every single night to perform at the level that she does. It’s inhumane, really. Like to expect people to be perfect and not have off games or? off nights. If she doesn’t go like 8 for 10 from three, people are questioning things.”
Clark, 24, was the subject of criticism last weekend when video went viral of her having a heated discussion with Fever head coach Stephanie White during the team’s loss to the Portland Fire. Her ongoing shooting slump, turnover problems and defensive woes have only exacerbated the controversy.
“It’s just unfair to have to deal with that,” Bueckers continued. “But I am sure that she has a great team around her and great people to help her. And I know she’s a great person at dealing with it, just tuning out the noise and just [continuing] to be there for herself and for her team. But I mean the expectations, it’s tough when you listen to it.”
Bueckers is, perhaps, in a unique position to be able to comment on what Clark is going through. The two entered college at the same time, memorably going back-and-forth as player of the year favorites with Bueckers at UConn and Clark at Iowa. Bueckers won out in their freshman season, 2019- 20, but injuries temporarily stalled her career as Clark’s stardom skyrocketed.
Clark entered the WNBA a year before Bueckers, but was slowed by injury last year herself. Those injuries hampered both players’ development, something fans often have little patience for. Bueckers eventually came back to lead UConn to the 2025 National Championship, while Clark is in her first post-injury season.
Clark’s own teammate, Lexie Hull, struck a similar tone to Bueckers regarding the constant spotlight on the young guard.
“That’s just something that happened,” Hull, 26, said about Clark’s argument with her coach. “And unfortunately Caitlin’s got a camera on her 24/7, and so you see every little thing, but this happens almost every day in women’s basketball.”
White, 48, also defended Clark, downplaying the incident as her “challenging a player.”
“It’s coaching,” she said. “It’s what it is. And I don’t often think it becomes an issue if you’re watching it in men’s sports most of the time.”
She continued, “We’re both competitive, we’re both stubborn. We’re more alike than different and hopefully we continue to bring the best out of each other.”
