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In this young start to the season the most talked-about topic in the WNBA is the simple foul Caitlin Clark committed against Angel Reese during the Indiana Fever’s and Chicago Sky’s debut game. It was just another foul seen in every game, but Reese’s reaction, along with the response from fans on social media and even “analysts,” has turned it into an unnecessary circus. Perhaps the fact that the Fever’s lopsided victory by more than 30 points drew 2.7 million viewers on ABC-a record for the most-viewed WNBA regular-season game across ESPN networks, and believed to be the most-viewed in 25 years, since NBC’s WNBA coverage-has something to do with why this play is being talked about so much.
To keep you informed, over the weekend, we also saw the Golden State Valkyries franchise’s first game, which they lost by almost 20 points to the Los Angeles Sparks and Kelsey Plum’s 37 points . Additionally, the Dallas Wings’ first overall pick, Paige Bueckers, has yet to taste victory in her first two games, with losses against the Minnesota Lynx and the Seattle Storm.
Paige Bueckers Makes History in the WNBA
Bueckers joined the WNBA last month after winning a national championship with the University of Connecticut. During her five years there, she achieved an impressive record of 110-13. Most impressively, she never lost two games in a row. This back-to-back loss hasn’t occurred since her high school days. She is undoubtedly experiencing what it’s like to play at the highest level, but she shouldn’t be bothered by it. Last season, Clark and the Fever lost their first five games and started with a 2-8 record in their first ten. Nevertheless, they made the playoffs and finished with a 20-20 record.
In the loss against the Storm, Bueckers made history with her strong performance. She scored 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting and had eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals. She became the first rookie in Wings franchise history to achieve those numbers. She was also the first rookie in the league to record 19 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in a game since Clark did it 12 times during her 2024 WNBA rookie season. In terms of statistics and individually, Bueckers has already made her mark in Wings and WNBA history. Up next for Dallas and Bueckers is a Wednesday night road game against the Minnesota Lynx, who already beat them in the season opener.
We still don’t know what Clark’s and Bueckers’ careers will be like, but they have a similar style. Both like to have the ball in their hands – Clark more so – and both know how to shoot three-pointers and assist their teammates. They are also leaders that their teammates respect. Their first game is still far away, on June 27 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Because it is still a while away, Bueckers will have gained more rhythm and a better understanding of what it’s like to play in the WNBA, something Clark now knows very well.
Clark’s next game is tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST at home against the Atlanta Dream. After her triple-double in the first game of the season and the Angel Reese incident, she will be ready to play similarly well. Atlanta lost their first game, so they will play to win and avoid falling behind in the standings, although there is still a lot of the season left.
This news was originally published on this post .
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