In the rising stardom of women’s basketball, be it the pro leagues or college hoops, there are two names usually on everyone’s lips – Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. Entering the NCAA scene in the same year, injuries held Bueckers back, preventing her from going all out on the court. And we’ve all seen Clark’s trajectory to superstardom. Now even though No. 22 is out of Iowa, Elle Duncan would still pick her over the Huskies player.

In a recent video by ESPN, the anchor discusses whether it’s fair to compare these two names in the first place. Going back to the sensational women’s college basketball that was the last two years, Duncan says, “I think it’s who Caitlin is, I think it’s the team that she played for. I don’t think we’ll ever see a season like we saw last year, in terms of impact, the new viewership that was there for her.”

Now even if UConn, who might finally have a chance at the title this year, wins, Duncan doesn’t believe it will be that huge. “And I don’t think Paige winning a national championship this year would change that or even contend with it. That’s just the truth of it.” Clark was something new, something exciting, a diamond in the rough.

“Because Iowa – it was improbable that they would be in two straight Finals. UConn – it is expected. It’s expected especially if healthy, if Geno Aureimma, that they would finally be able to get this championship,” Duncan continues. Bueckers is finally healthy enough to play the full season this time, and Azzi Fudd is also back. The Huskies, ranked 2nd in the Big East and also maintaining that position across AP rankings of the season so far, are looking stronger than ever.

And given how long it has been since the last championship, the redshirts are raring to go. “It’s been since 2016, which by UConn standards is a significant title drought for a team that was winning them every other year for 20-30 years,” as Duncan points out.

She continues to say that since Bueckers and Clark are different players, a comparison might not do them justice. And picking one favorite doesn’t take away from the other. “So I definitely don’t think we’d ever be able to compare seasons or compare impact in the college space.”

While ‘Paige Buckets’ and CC have usually been talked about in comparison to each other, there is one area where Bueckers is leaving Clark behind.

Nike chooses another player over Caitlin Clark…again

While Caitlin Clark has had an 8-year, $28 million deal with Nike since last spring, there are no signature shoes in the making yet. There hasn’t even been a whisper about the progress of the deal, which has earned fan fire. And it only grew when it was announced yesterday that Paige Bueckers is set to release her own Nike player edition sneaker this month.

A NIL deal to top all NIL deals, Bueckers’ Nike G.T. Hustle 3 becomes the first basketball sneaker created by a college player in the NIL era. Scheduled to drop Dec. 7 on SNKRS and available at select retail locations, the Huskies star has done something no other college player has. Not even Caitlin Clark.

In the W, A’ja Wilson was first given preference over her, rumors swirling that owing to her veteran status Nike wanted to work with the Aces star first. But this latest news has left fans baffled and no update on the Rookie of the Year’s shoes. It seems like Clark will continue to wear Kobe Bryant’s Kobes on the court.