One of college basketball’s biggest returning stars is appreciative of Caitlin Clark’s first professional season.
UConn guard Paige Bueckers spoke to reporters on Friday about Clark’s early WNBA tenure, praising her ability to generate exposure.
“Caitlin has brought so many new eyes to the game, and we appreciate that,” Bueckers said. “When people tune in to watch her, they leave the game fans of so many more.”
Beyond just Clark, Bueckers said the entire 2024 rookie class — including Angel Reese — is “doing extremely well.”
“I think it’s just a high level of basketball,” Bueckers said. “I think a lot of new eyes are watching, and they’re impressed with the level of talent, and impressed with the level of physicality. That’s kind of what the league has been.”
In her first season with the Indiana Fever, Clark is averaging 16.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game while converting 34.6 percent of 3-pointers.
The former Iowa great has positioned herself as a likely All-Star and the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year honors.
Bueckers herself was part of the Class of 2020 alongside Clark, Reese, Cameron Brink and Kamilla Cardoso, with the Huskies guard the top overall player coming out of high school that season.
The Hopkins, Minn., native was phenomenal in her return from an ACL tear last season, notching First Team All-American honors by posting 21.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
Bueckers and Clark battled one another in the 2024 Final Four, with Iowa eking out a 71-69 win over UConn.
The game between the sport’s titans was watched by 14.4 million viewers, marking the second-most-watched women’s college basketball contest in history.
Clark’s star power has proliferated in the WNBA, with her Fever’s game against Reese’s Chicago Sky the most-watched WNBA matchup since 2001.
Regarding the college ranks, UConn is viewed as one of the favorites to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament with the return of Bueckers for a presumed final year.
The potential top pick in the 2025 Draft should only augment what’s been an exciting WNBA season driven by outstanding rookies like Clark.
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