The rivalry between two of the biggest names in women’s college basketball, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, dates back to 2021. One has already made her mark in the pros, while the other is ready to do the same, with all eyes on her 2025 debut. But you know what? The competition between these two isn’t just about their on-court performances; it’s their die-hard fans who are going head-to-head. 

And let’s just say tempers are flaring after a recent viral jibe from a Bueckers fan. Mariah Rose posted a video that quickly gained traction. In it, she made a statement that has sent Caitlin Clark’s supporters into a frenzy. She claimed, “She (Paige) was Caitlin Clark before Caitlin Clark.” 

Not only did this spark debate about who truly deserves the title of basketball queen, but Rose also blamed the referees for UConn’s loss to Iowa last year. And CC’s stans were not having it. But where did it all begin from? In 2021, to be specific.

When both players had breakout freshman seasons, that set the stage for what was to come. The Iowa alumna and UConn star were named Freshmen of the Year, which sparked fierce debates about who was more deserving of the honor. 

Clark averaged 26.6 points per game, taking over the scoring duties for Iowa, while Bueckers led UConn with 20.0 points per game, guiding them to a Final Four appearance. Despite the numbers, Bueckers took home the Naismith Trophy, while Clark’s supporters felt she had been robbed.

Over the years, their careers have followed two very different paths. While Clark continued to break records at Iowa, Bueckers’ career has been marred by injuries, keeping her from truly hitting her stride until now. After a year recovering from knee surgery, the guard led UConn to the NCAA Tournament semi-finals, where they fell to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa. 

And that brings us to today. With Bueckers’ WNBA debut on the horizon and Clark just out of the most stellar rookie season, the rivalry between her and Clark is reigniting. And this new video has ruffled more than a few feathers, with the Indiana Fever star’s fans firing back in full force. 

Caitlin Clark fans fire back at Paige Bueckers online

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers’ fans are just as competitive as the players themselves. A fan commented on the video, “The refs wanted Caitlin to win a championship? Guess those refs took the day off of the championship game. What a crappy way to try to build up Paige by minimizing the most popular female basketball player in the world.”

This means CC’s supporters outright reject claims that Iowa’s victory was a result of officiating bias. And, to be fair, calling her the “most popular female basketball player in the world” isn’t an exaggeration. After all, Clark’s rookie season helped break 24-year-old viewership records for the WNBA.

Another one said, “Not surprised you gotta mention CC to get some more views.” The Fever Guard’s fans believe Paige supporters often invoke Caitlin’s name to draw attention because Clark’s marketability and popularity are simply unmatched right now. 

A third one direct took us back to last year’s semi-final, “Maybe Paige shouldn’t have had her back turned on the inbound 🚶🏻‍♀️ Did the moving screen call suck as well? Yeah, but that was the definition of a moving screen 😂.”

With just 3.9 seconds left and Iowa up 70-69, UConn was called for an illegal screen, handing Iowa possession. Then, in a final stroke, CC threw the ball off Paige Bueckers’ back during an inbound play to kill the clock and seal the win. 

Paige’s fans called the officiating questionable, but Clark’s supporters argue it was pure basketball IQ on Caitlin’s part. Either way, it was a memorable moment in their rivalry. Then the comment turned it to the ‘women for women’ angle. 

“Knocking down one woman to build another up, it’s just ugly. All boats rise together,” one wrote.  Amid the fiery debates, they took a step back to advocate for women’s empowerment. Their point? Let’s celebrate both athletes for what they bring to the game instead of pitting them against each other.

Meanwhile, a new fan chimed in saying, “Does everyone love Paige though? 🤷‍♀️ I, for one, would set my alarm to watch Caitlin play at 5 a.m. I wouldn’t do that for any other player in America, so tell me again how everyone loves Paige?”

This one’s personal. Fans are going out of their way to highlight just how far their devotion to Clark goes. Well, someone who pulled you into a community that you now love holds a special part. 

But at the end of the day, whether Paige Bueckers steals the spotlight when she likely lands with the Dallas Wings in the 2025 Draft or Caitlin Clark solidifies her position, one thing is certain: both will go down as two of the greatest college athletes to transition to the pros. But for now, as they say, game on.