Analyst Dan Patrick has dropped a bombshell on who the Indiana Fever’s star Caitlin Clark’s biggest rival is—and it’s not Angel Reese.
Instead, Patrick pointed to UConn star Paige Bueckers as the true competitor who could define Clark’s WNBA journey. Patrick’s comments, made on his self-titled show, have sparked a debate among fans and media. He argued that while the Clark-Reese storyline has dominated headlines, the basketball rivalry that matters most for the WNBA is Clark versus Bueckers.
Analyst Drops Bombshell on Caitlin Clark’s Biggest Rival
Patrick Claims Bueckers Is Clark’s Biggest Rival, Not Reese
Patrick revealed on a recent episode of “The Dan Patrick Show” that Bueckers is Clark’s true rival, not Reese, as many widely believe. Clark and Reese clashed in some of the biggest college basketball moments of the past two years. Reese’s LSU Tigers beat Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 national championship, drawing record ratings. Clark returned the favor in 2024, leading Iowa past LSU in the Elite Eight in another must-watch showdown. Despite this, Patrick insists Clark and Bueckers are the true rivals.
“Keep in mind, Paige Bueckers was Caitlin Clark before Caitlin Clark,” Patrick said. “This was supposed to be the rivalry. This was supposed to be Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers, and hopefully it will be. And I think we’re trying to have other rivalries, but that’s not the rivalry. Have Clark and Bueckers face each other, then maybe have something else.”
Bueckers entered UConn with massive hype and quickly lived up to it. She won the 2021 National Player of the Year award and became one of the most popular players in the country. Injuries slowed her progress, but she reminded everyone of her talent by scoring a historic 44 points on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Patrick believes Bueckers mirrors Clark in ways that Reese does not. Both are elite guards with the ability to score, pass, and take over games. Both carry the pressure of being the face of their teams. And both draw massive fan followings.
Patrick Insists Bueckers Will Appeal To WNBA Fans
Patrick’s comments have sparked debate among fans. Fans of Angel Reese defended her role as Clark’s greatest rival, pointing to their history and the fiery competitiveness that keeps audiences hooked. Others agreed with Patrick, saying Clark vs. Bueckers would showcase a higher level of basketball skill.
Some fans argued that Clark does not have to be limited to one rival. They noted that Michael Jordan had multiple challengers, from Magic Johnson and Larry Bird early in his career to Reggie Miller and the Pistons later. In the same way, Clark could have Reese for drama and Bueckers for pure basketball battles.
“The difference is that Paige will appeal to WNBA fans,” Patrick added. “Caitlin Clark appeals to the casual fans—or someone who’s not even a casual fan but will become a casual fan, or maybe even more than that with Caitlin Clark. But Paige hasn’t been able to play consistently. This could be the true rivalry the WNBA needs.”
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