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Paige Bueckers made her Dallas Wings debut on Friday night as the WNBA preseason got underway with Dallas' game against the Las Vegas Aces at Purcell Pavilion on the campus of Notre Dame.
Less than three weeks ago, the Wings selected Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The versatile guard entered the professional game with immense hype after leading the UConn Huskies to an NCAA championship in early April.
The rapid transition from the NCAA tournament to being taken No. 1 in the draft to live game action in the pros is something that Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark can relate to after her experience last year in the WNBA.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (left) and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (right) share a status as the WNBA's last two No. 1 overall draft picks.Vincent Carchietta, Grace Hollars-Imagn Images
However, when it came to how the 2024 and 2025 top picks played in their first taste of preseason WNBA basketball, fans were quick to point out that Bueckers did not meet Clark's lofty standards right out of the gate.
At halftime against the Aces, Bueckers' passive performance resulted in a stat line of four points, two rebounds, zero assists and two fouls in 15 minutes of game action.
She got her first WNBA bucket by driving past Chelsea Gray and reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson for a clean left-handed layup.
Before fans could get too excited about the impressive move by the Wings' No. 1 draft pick, film from the first half of Clark's Fever debut began to circulate on social media.
Ironically, the 2024 No. 1 pick out of Iowa was matched up with Dallas in her first preseason game for Indiana. She torched the Wings to the tune of 16 points and four three-pointers in 16 minutes.
"What’s Paige’s first half looking like?" teased a fan after seeing the video of Clark from last year.
"NO ONE LIKE HER," replied one Clark truther.
"Ain't no one guarding like this tonight," added a user, noting the defense on Clark in her debut.
"Let the comparisons begin!!!!!!! (or don't please god)," joked one response, already wary of the narrative.
"levels," a fan decreed.
It is worth noting the stacked Las Vegas team that Bueckers was up against in Dallas' 112-78 loss was certainly a tougher opponent than last year's edition of the Wings that Clark picked on — there's a reason Dallas ended up with the No. 1 pick this year.
The comparison between Clark and Bueckers took no time to grab the attention of WNBA fans on social media this preseason, and there is no doubt it will continue throughout Bueckers' rookie campaign. They will meet for the first time when the Wings face the Fever on June 27.
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Less than three weeks ago, the Wings selected Bueckers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. The versatile guard entered the professional game with immense hype after leading the UConn Huskies to an NCAA championship in early April.
The rapid transition from the NCAA tournament to being taken No. 1 in the draft to live game action in the pros is something that Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark can relate to after her experience last year in the WNBA.
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Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (left) and Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (right) share a status as the WNBA's last two No. 1 overall draft picks.Vincent Carchietta, Grace Hollars-Imagn Images
However, when it came to how the 2024 and 2025 top picks played in their first taste of preseason WNBA basketball, fans were quick to point out that Bueckers did not meet Clark's lofty standards right out of the gate.
At halftime against the Aces, Bueckers' passive performance resulted in a stat line of four points, two rebounds, zero assists and two fouls in 15 minutes of game action.
She got her first WNBA bucket by driving past Chelsea Gray and reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson for a clean left-handed layup.
Before fans could get too excited about the impressive move by the Wings' No. 1 draft pick, film from the first half of Clark's Fever debut began to circulate on social media.
Ironically, the 2024 No. 1 pick out of Iowa was matched up with Dallas in her first preseason game for Indiana. She torched the Wings to the tune of 16 points and four three-pointers in 16 minutes.
"What’s Paige’s first half looking like?" teased a fan after seeing the video of Clark from last year.
"NO ONE LIKE HER," replied one Clark truther.
"Ain't no one guarding like this tonight," added a user, noting the defense on Clark in her debut.
"Let the comparisons begin!!!!!!! (or don't please god)," joked one response, already wary of the narrative.
"levels," a fan decreed.
It is worth noting the stacked Las Vegas team that Bueckers was up against in Dallas' 112-78 loss was certainly a tougher opponent than last year's edition of the Wings that Clark picked on — there's a reason Dallas ended up with the No. 1 pick this year.
The comparison between Clark and Bueckers took no time to grab the attention of WNBA fans on social media this preseason, and there is no doubt it will continue throughout Bueckers' rookie campaign. They will meet for the first time when the Wings face the Fever on June 27.
Related: Caitlin Clark Issues Demand to Dallas Wings Before Paige Bueckers' WNBA Arrival
Related: Ticket Prices for Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Return Set New Record for Fever Star
Related: Ticket Prices for Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Return Set New Record for Fever Star
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