Paige Bueckers turned in another standout performance Friday night as the Dallas Wings faced the Indiana Fever, who were missing star guard Caitlin Clark due to injury. Bueckers racked up 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting, adding four boards, four assists, and two steals. She was also flawless from the line, sinking all eight free throws.
Still, it wasn’t enough. The Fever rolled to an 88-78 win their fourth straight victory even without their franchise centerpiece.
But off the court, the much-hyped Caitlin Clark vs. Bueckers rivalry took a surprising turn.
In a pregame segment aired on Ion’s broadcast, both young stars were featured and Clark made it very clear how she feels about her longtime counterpart. Despite years of comparisons dating back to high school, Clark had nothing but admiration for the Wings rookie.
“For me, you love going up against really great competitors,” Clark said. “I’ve always been a fan of hers of her game and how she carries herself.”
Read More: 20 Reasons Caitlin Clark’s Real Rivalry Is With Paige Bueckers
Clark went on to call Bueckers “a three-level scorer,” pointing out her smoothness, efficiency, and versatility.
“She can shoot it, score in the mid-range, get to the basket she does it all. At the end of the day, she’s a winner, and those are the type of people you want on your team.”
This glowing endorsement seemed to silence any lingering speculation that the two were bitter rivals. Instead, it’s mutual respect that defines their relationship, even if fans were robbed of another head-to-head battle.
Ion Pregame with Caitlin and Paige pic.twitter.com/DlMg3l8gc7
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) August 2, 2025
Caitlin Clark missed her sixth straight game due to a groin injury that flared up again earlier in the season. The Fever have no set timeline for her return and are taking a cautious approach to avoid aggravating the injury further.
If all goes well, fans could see the long-awaited rematch on August 12, when the Wings visit Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Until then, Caitlin Clark’s words make one thing clear: rivalry or not, the respect between these two is real.
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