Exciting Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers Announcement is Turning Heads - Yahoo Sports

Before Caitlin Clark took over the women’s basketball world, Paige Bueckers was the No. 1 player in their 2020 class.

Unfortunately injuries took a little bit away from Paige’s shine in college. But that didn’t stop the UConn star from becoming a three-time All-American, a national champion and the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft.

Due to their proximity over the years, the two female hoopers have been endlessly compared. However in a recent interview with TIME’s Sean Gregory, Bueckers admitted that although she succumbed to those comparisons in the past she’s now focused on running “her own race.”

“That’s what the media cares about. That’s what everybody who watches basketball cares about. I used to be bothered by it,” the Dallas Wings rookie admitted. “But I’ve done so much work on myself and my approach.”

“The ability to not run a race in comparison, to run my own race and worry about that,” she added. “Caitlin’s a phenomenal player. We’re also completely different players.”

Clark had one of the most impactful rookie campaigns we’ve seen in The W — possibly ever. And Paige knows that her first season in Dallas will be matched up side-by-side with her longtime rival.

“Pitting the two most recent No. 1 draft picks against each other is good for the game,” Bueckers admitted. “At the end of the day, I don’t think either of us really cares about it, because we’re just trying to be the best versions of ourselves.”

Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark compete in the Final Four.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – APRIL 05: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies look on in the second half during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 05, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Steph Chambers/Getty Images

When it comes to their last matchup, Paige also revealed that she still feels some type of way about Connecticut’s two-point loss to Clark and the Hawkeyes in last year’s Final Four.

“I’m still sick about that game,” Bueckers said. “The weeks after it, I just felt so disappointed, frustrated with how it ended. But then, like always, the motivation piece kicks in, where you don’t ever want to feel that feeling again.”

And she didn’t.