For years, fans and sports media pundits have been comparing Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers.
The two crossed paths briefly in college when Clark was at Iowa and Bueckers at UConn, and now that both are in the WNBA the respective faces of their franchises, the comparisons likely won’t stop and analysts likely won’t stop pitting the two against each other.
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So when Yahoo Sports posted a laudatory message on social media following Bueckers’ WNBA debut, in which she scored 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block while shooting 30% from the field in a 99-84 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, Clark fans couldn’t help but point out the hypocrisy considering what the outlet posted after Clark’s WNBA debut last year.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts after scoring against the Minnesota Lynx during the first half at College Park Center.Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
“Despite the loss, Paige Bueckers shined in her WNBA debut 🌟” the @YahooSports X account wrote on Friday.
The phrasing of the post was much more merciful than what the site wrote after Clark’s pro debut, in which she scored 20 points, three assists, and two steals while shooting 33.3% from the field and 36.4% from 3-point range in a 92-71 loss to the Connecticut Sun on May 14 last year.
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“An up-and-down WNBA debut for Caitlin Clark 🏀,” Yahoo Sports posted on X last year.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during the third quarter against the Brazil National Team at Carver-Haweye Arena.Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
And while the difference in tone in the two posts might have flown by undetected to most fans, Clark’s fans certainly clocked it, and they made it known they weren’t happy with what they perceived as disrespect toward the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year.
“Man people don’t even try to hide the agendas smdh,” one fan replied.
“Don’t mess w/ CC’s fan. They come w/ receipts,” a second fan noted.
“It’s ridiculous. CC probably had the most expectations on her of all rookies ever,” one user stated.
“CC first game was vs Dijonai (Carrington) one of the best defenders. Paige was shadowed by Bridget Carlson. They’re not the same,” another user acknowledged.
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“Yahoo Sports lost any respect they had… oh righto they had no respect,” remarked one fan.
“@YahooSports legitimacy is down the drain,” another fan scoffed.
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