Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark are two of the most popular women’s college basketball players in recent years. Now, Bueckers is joining Clark in the WNBA, and the two will undoubtedly be compared a lot. Considering Clark’s historic accomplishments as a rookie, expecting Bueckers to be just as successful wouldn’t be fair. Bueckers can have a great rookie season without breaking records left and right.
Wings fans should be excited about the addition and expect good things from Bueckers, even as a rookie, but they should not expect her to put her name in the history books right away. What Clark did was incredibly difficult. Otherwise, she would not have been the first rookie to make the All-WNBA First-Team since 2008.
Bueckers has one advantage Clark did not have in her rookie season, though.
The Wings are more experienced than the Fever were last season
When she was drafted, Caitlin Clark joined a Fever team that had been rebuilding for years. She had two All-Star-level teammates, but the Fever were young and inexperienced and needed Clark to be their best player. The Wings are in a different position.
While the Wings lost Satou Sabally and Natasha Howard this offseason, they have some experienced players on the roster and an established star. Arike Ogunbowale has been in the WNBA since 2019, is a four-time All-Star, won two All-Star Game MVP awards, and established herself as one of the best scorers in the league.
Ogunbowale will continue to carry a massive load for the Wings, which means that Bueckers does not have to be the team’s best offensive player right away. That removes a lot of pressure Clark had to deal with as a rookie.
Moreover, the Wings have a rather experienced roster. Ogunbowale and Teaira McCowan have played seven and eight playoff games respectively with the Wings, including one trip to the semifinals in 2023, DiJonai Carrington and Myisha Hines-Allen have both played in over 20 playoff games, and Ty Harris has appeared in 16 postseason games.
That is something the Fever did not have in Clark’s rookie season, and being around experienced players will be a massive advantage for Bueckers. For one, it will help her win games in her rookie season—maybe even in the playoffs. The Wings may be no match for the best teams in the league, but they could make the playoffs with Bueckers’ help and hand out a loss in the first round.
Secondly, joining a more veteran team will also benefit Bueckers’ development and make the transition to the WNBA easier. WNBA rookies do not get much time between March Madness, the draft, and training camp. Having experienced veterans around who can help keep her grounded could make a real difference for Bueckers early in her rookie season.
Nevertheless, Wings fans should remember that Bueckers will carve her own path in the WNBA and does not have to match anyone else’s accomplishments right away.