Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers have a real argument as the brightest young stars in the WNBA. Both have made quick work of turning their franchises, the Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings, into playoff contenders. However, the conversation surrounding the two stars could not be more different.
Clark has been dubbed with unflattering nicknames such as “Caitlin Congress” due to some members of the U.S. Congress writing a letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert demanding that the WNBA do more to protect Clark, even though neither Clark nor the Fever had anything to do with the letter.
On the other hand, Bueckers has turned into a media and fan darling off the court, thanks in large part to her activism and public support of black women. After the Wings’ 96-91 win over the Chicago Sky on Sunday, Bueckers once again voiced public support for black women.
“I think Black women specifically, I grew up with a lot of Black prominent Black women in my life that were very important to me and how I was raised and how I grew up being my, my stepmom, my AAU coach,” Bueckers said of the lack of black female coaches in the WNBA in her post-game presser.
Paige Bueckers on black coaches in the WNBA: I grew up with prominent bw in my life. I understand how amazing they are, the WNBA was built on black women. @paigebueckers1 is pure class! Gotta love her! https://t.co/6TNWHA51og pic.twitter.com/9kJxVKDfrP
— CHAMPSIDE (@theCHAMPSIDE) July 13, 2026
“So I, I understand like how amazing they are and how they should get the same equal opportunity as a white woman, as a white man, to be an important piece of this league. And it was built on a lot of Black women; this league was. So it’s definitely right for them to get the same, the same equal opportunity as everybody else.”
“Caitlin Clark would never”
As great as Bueckers’ support has been, it has had the unforeseen, unnecessary, and unfair side effect of leading to criticism for Clark.
“Cc would never Lmaoooo,” one fan posted on X.
“If you didn’t understand why Paige doesn’t get the same love as CC well now you know,” someone else added, insinuating that Clark’s popularity is because she isn’t as much of a social justice advocate as Bueckers.
“The Reverse Caitlin Clark lol,” another fan wrote.
Of course, what these critics are missing is that Clark has advocated for social justice time and time again, and as recently as earlier this month.
“The harassment, the hate. None of that is OK …” she said of the attacks thrown toward Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas, according to ESPN. “There should never be question of character like I’ve always stood up here and said that, and that’s truly what I believe, that’s how I was raised. So, none of that is okay, and I don’t want anyone to experience that.”
She also spoke out against racism last year.
“Nobody in our league should be facing any sort of racism, hurtful, disrespectful, hateful comments and threats. Those aren’t fans. Those are trolls,” she said in a press conference.
Both Bueckers and Clark are shining brightly for the WNBA on the court, and using their platforms from their success to champion and advocate for others. It’s time for everyone else to realize that and stop using them for their own personal agendas.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.