When Caitlin Clark made her NBC Sports’ debut, Reggie Miller made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He chose Payton Pritchard, a role player for the Boston Celtics, as Caitlin Clark’s NBA player comp. That comparison took Clark and most WNBA fans by surprise for obvious reasons. After all, Clark is one of the brightest stars in the world of sports—not just women’s basketball. Pritchard is a good player and played a big role in the Celtics’ last championship run, but he is not on the same level as Clark.
Former NBA star Carmelo Anthony came up with some more appropriate comparisons on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast. Anthony brought up Stephen Curry, the NBA’s best 3-point shooter, Indiana Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton, and Luka Doncic, who is a phenomenal passer.
Melo & Boogie had their own Caitlin Clark player comparison after her reaction to Reggie Miller 😂
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) February 16, 2026
Melo: "She got a lil' Steph, Haliburton."
Boogie: "Payton Pritchard not even passing ... that man is strictly a bucket." pic.twitter.com/HDEUoBtEer
DeMarcus Cousins added that Clark was a much more well-rounded player than Pritchard because of her ability to make insane passes and make her teammates better. Just Clark’s presence on the court opens things up for Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell due to the attention she deserves from opposing defenses.
All three are great comparisons that match Clark’s star power and unique on-court abilities much better than the Pritchard comparison ever did. The Tyrese Haliburton comp may be most satisfying to fans in Indiana because of the local connection and what both mean to the Fever and Pacers. Clark’s arrival in Indiana turned the Fever into a playoff team and future championship contender. Haliburton was the driving force behind the Pacers’ run to the 2025 NBA Finals.
Clark is still just scratching the surface
Caitlin Clark was already a star when she came to the WNBA, and lived up to expectations by bringing tons of fans to the league and putting together an All-WNBA First Team worthy season. Her second season was cut short by injuries.
Clark has only scratched the surface of her stardom. She hasn’t even played two full seasons yet, and will only get better the longer she is in the league. Likewise, Clark’s star will only continue to rise when the Fever find more success.
If last season was any indication, the Fever are primed for a run to the finals sooner rather than later. Even with several season-ending injuries, the team made the playoffs, upset the Dream in the first round, and gave the Aces everything they could handle.
Since Clark is still so early in her pro career she hasn’t had the chance to accomplish many of the things Curry, Doncic, and Haliburton have done in the NBA, but she still deserves to be compared to big-time stars.