May 9, 2025 • 10 mins
The Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark rivalry emerges as the top storyline for the WNBA's 2025 rookie class, examining whether Paige might actually be the better player despite entering the league later.
• High school history shows Paige was ranked #1 while Caitlin wasn't even in the top 3 in their class
• Paige won college Player of the Year as a freshman but injuries affected her draft position
• Different team situations may affect their rookie performances - Caitlin had the green light while Paige may need to defer to stars like Arike Ogunbowale
• Public perception differs between the two stars with Caitlin as the "WNBA's darling" while Paige connects differently with fans
• The rivalry will likely define women's basketball for the next 5-10 years, including 2028 Olympic competitions
• Later-season matchups between their teams will provide the best comparison after both have adjusted to professional play
Make sure to tune in for the WNBA season starting May 16th! Like, subscribe, comment, and tell anyone who's anyone about the show.
https://linktr.ee/GetABucketShow for more content!!!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
What's up everybody?
It's your favorite show'sfavorite show.
Get a Bucket.
I'm your host, trey, and, asusual, I hope you're all having
a wonderful, wonderful day Now.
Today we're going to talk aboutmy top storyline for the WNBA's
2025 Rookie Class.
But before we do that, pleasemake sure to hit that like and
subscribe button.
Comment, tell anyone who'sanyone about the show.
Try to get the ratings up alittle bit, you know, just a
little bit.
Like I said, today we're goingto talk about the top storyline
(00:25):
for the WNBA 2025 rookie classand, ladies and gentlemen, I
think it's a good one.
We're not going to hem and haw,we're going to get straight to
it.
Right, the top storyline PaigeBeckers.
Is she better than KaitlynClark?
Still Now I say still you guysmight be wondering why Because
(00:47):
Paige is just now entering theWNBA.
Kaitlyn well, we've seenKaitlyn.
She has got a bucket.
I'll give you that.
Like she's been hooping, we'regoing to keep her right here.
You know what I'm saying.
Give her a little notorietyright there.
But we also got to keep in mindtoo because, like again, face
of the league, some people,casual fans, call it mvp
(01:11):
consideration.
We hear all that help get moreviewership for the wmba page
beckers versus caitlin clark.
You all need to focus on thisNow.
I say all this, ladies andgentlemen, because there's a
little bit of history lessonthat we got to talk about, right
(01:32):
, and with regards to CaitlinClark and Paige Beckers, we do
have a little bit of high schoolsituations, right, a little bit
of high school situations,right, like they both were in
the same high school class.
So when you see Kaitlyn Clark'shigh school stats yes, the
(01:55):
junior, senior year weren'treally recorded, for whatever
reason these are pretty good,right, paige Beckers, you see,
they're pretty good, right?
So Kaitlyn has 15 points forfreshman year, 27 points for
sophomore year.
Cool, she's hooping.
She's hooping.
Paige, she never dropped below20 points a game 19.9, we round
up around here.
So she never dropped below 20points a game in high school.
(02:18):
She was also rated the numberone player in high school and
again, I said they were in thesame class.
Kaitlyn Clark was rated lowerthan fourth, that's behind Angel
Reese and Cameron Brink.
Ok, so that's what we'retalking about, ladies and
gentlemen.
So, again, there is a little bitof a history between Kaitlyn
(02:38):
and Paige.
Let's even go to college wherewell, college we can talk about
Paige not being healthy andagain on this wing squad.
I think she's going to do well,but health was the main reason
why she won't the number onepick last year.
If I'm being honest with you,like she should have gotten
selected higher than KaitlynClark, but because of the
(03:00):
injuries you can't pick PaigeBeckers over Kaitlyn Clark.
I hear it.
Let's not forget two PaigeBeckers did win player of the
year as a freshman.
That's pretty decent.
So again, ladies and gentlemen,we do have a wonderful player in
Paige Beckers that y'all needto pay attention to, because we
(03:23):
have connections to a CaitlinClark.
Like we got to figure out ifCaitlin Clark succeeds this next
year.
Right, that puts pressure onPaige.
So let's pay attention to that,because if Caitlin's doing well
, people are going to say, ohsee, told you, paige can't do
(03:44):
what Caitlin's doing.
They're going to focus on thestats.
Then they're going to say, see,see, told you, paige can't do
what Caitlin's doing, they'regoing to focus on the stats.
Then they're going to say, see,caitlin wins, paige didn't.
Context does matter, though.
Now let's flip this, though.
Let's say, if Caitlin Clarkstarts to fail, right, the eyes
(04:05):
will now start to look towardsPaige Beckers real quick, like I
think right now, point in time,ladies and gentlemen, we can
actually make the case that it'sfair to say Kaitlyn Clark is
like the WNBA's darling, right.
That I think that's fair.
I think that's fair.
Um, paige, paige, she cool witheverybody, like she might get
(04:33):
invited to the cookout a littlequicker than Caitlin do.
That's all I'm saying.
But I think Paige is viewed alittle bit differently, not as
the WNBA's darling.
What happens if that starts tochange?
What happens if that notionstarts to change a little bit?
Let's also talk about thedevelopment of Paige right
(04:53):
versus Kaitlyn Clark.
Kaitlyn Clark had to go upagainst someone like a Dejanay
Carrington.
Keep in mind, paige Beckers isactually teammates with someone
like a Dejanay Carrington, soyou get to practice against
Dijonay's defense on aconsistent basis.
I'd like to assume she's goingto be cool.
Also, I think, in terms ofdealing with pressure, paige
(05:17):
does that.
That's just my personal opinion, but we're going to find out
too, though, Because, again, ifshe's turning the ball over the
way Kaitlyn was, I can't reallytalk too badly about Caitlyn
right.
I got to say that.
Same energy for Paige Beckers.
But again, the development ofPaige you do want to know,
because I'm sure people willtalk about what I just said.
(05:39):
Oh well, caitlyn had Dejanay asan opponent.
All right, cool.
Well, suck it up, BecauseCaitlyn also had an Aaliyah
Boston.
Paige, don't Everybody's goingto have pros and cons to their
roster.
So I'm looking forward to theexcuses for the Caitlyn Clark
stance let's also talk about tothe initial supporting cast.
(06:03):
Like I just mentioned, paige mayfeel obligated to defer to her
teammates a little bit more so.
Like Kaitlyn had KelseyMitchell and Aaliyah Boston
Aaliyah Boston, second year,kelsey Mitchell, good player,
not revered as the star, theydrafted Kaitlyn Caitlin Clark
(06:27):
number one.
You got to assume she got thegreen light to do whatever she
want within reason.
Paige might not have that samelevel of leash Because, again,
you do have an Arike Agumbawale.
You might want to defer to hera little bit more than a Kelsey
Mitchell or an Aaliyah Boston,and that's just being brutally
(06:48):
honest.
Arike Agumbawale is stillconsidered one of the stars in
the WNBA, so why not defer toher?
Sometimes that's logical Like,would you not?
I would.
Now I try to get a buck inmyself too, but I also want to
make sure that I'm deferringwhat I need to.
(07:09):
Page might have to run throughthat Caitlin didn't have to as
much.
But again, people are going tocare about that aspect.
We're going to just talk aboutstats, end of day.
Then let's also talk about, too,the situation.
Well, didn't Kaitlyn have afuture running mate?
(07:30):
Like, let's say, it doesn'twork out with Kelsey Mitchell,
she still has Aaliyah Boston toplay with.
They're back-to-back number onepicks.
They're bound to get to the NBAfinals at minimum within their
career.
You keep that, paige.
We're still trying to figurethat out.
So maybe, at least, based offmy expectations, I'm assuming
(07:50):
they have enough to get and justmiss the playoff.
Just miss the playoffs.
So let's see who they canpotentially get, but we got to
pair her up with somebody.
So again, ladies and gentlemen,when I'm talking about the top
storyline for the WNBA season,it's got to be what we've been
(08:11):
talking about this entire time.
Is Kaitlyn Clark worse thanPaige Beckers?
And yes, I said is KaitlynClark worse than Paige Beckers?
And yes, I said is CaitlinClark worse than Paige Beckers?
Said it just like that.
And keep in mind too, there's acouple more connections than
just these two history right,Hell, look at the jersey I got
(08:34):
on.
This is Natasha Howard's jersey.
Shout out Tosh.
Right, she's currently onCaitlin Clark's team, so we
definitely got to pay attentionbecause, again, her supporting
cast is top notch.
But what happens if the IndianaI mean you know what happens if
(08:55):
the Indiana Papers start losingto the Dallas Wings?
What happens?
They've been perceived as thebetter team coming into the
season.
A lot of pressure is on KaitlynClark and, for me, I'm paying
attention to the latter part ofthe game, to the later games
between Paige and Kaitlyn.
That's when I'm going to reallystart judging the two, because
now Paige has gotten her feetwet with the WNBA.
Kaitlyn should have a littlebit more cohesion with her team,
(09:18):
a little bit more time to playwith her team.
Plus, you get a full off seasonwith your team.
Let's see what these teams looklike.
But again, ladies and gentlemen,this is the top storyline for
the WNBA's rookie class for the2025 season.
And again, if you don't believeme, that's cool.
(09:39):
I'm telling you all right now,there's no other storyline that
beats this, because this alsotalks about the future of the
WNBA.
If you don't think these twogirls are going to be talking
about for the rest of the, forat least the next five, 10 years
, you're crazy.
We're going to be talking aboutthem in the Olympic Games.
So moments like this are goingto be talked about, are going to
(09:59):
be remembered, so we got tostart paying attention to it now
.
So, yes, this is the topstoryline for the WNBA's 2025
season.
I don't care what y'all say.
Argue with your mom, but I amcurious, though, if y'all have a
difference.
So definitely comment yourthoughts below.
But, ladies and gentlemen, thatis all the time I have for the
(10:22):
episode, so I definitelyappreciate y'all for listening.
Make sure y'all look at theWNBA season.
It is coming on very, very soon.
In fact, may 16th, I believe,is the date that we're talking
about.
So again, ladies and gentlemen,hope y'all pay attention to
that date, tune in and thencontinue to tune into the show.
Make sure you like subscribe,subscribe, comment, tell anyone
(10:43):
who's anyone about the show.
My name is Tray.
I'm the host.
Get a bucket.
Hope you all are having a goodone.
Take care.
What's up everybody?
It's your favorite show'sfavorite show.
Get a Bucket.
I'm your host, trey, and, asusual, I hope you're all having
a wonderful, wonderful day Now.
Today we're going to talk aboutmy top storyline for the WNBA's
2025 Rookie Class.
But before we do that, pleasemake sure to hit that like and
subscribe button.
Comment, tell anyone who'sanyone about the show.
Try to get the ratings up alittle bit, you know, just a
little bit.
Like I said, today we're goingto talk about the top storyline
(00:25):
for the WNBA 2025 rookie classand, ladies and gentlemen, I
think it's a good one.
We're not going to hem and haw,we're going to get straight to
it.
Right, the top storyline PaigeBeckers.
Is she better than KaitlynClark?
Still Now I say still you guysmight be wondering why Because
(00:47):
Paige is just now entering theWNBA.
Kaitlyn well, we've seenKaitlyn.
She has got a bucket.
I'll give you that.
Like she's been hooping, we'regoing to keep her right here.
You know what I'm saying.
Give her a little notorietyright there.
But we also got to keep in mindtoo because, like again, face
of the league, some people,casual fans, call it mvp
(01:11):
consideration.
We hear all that help get moreviewership for the wmba page
beckers versus caitlin clark.
You all need to focus on thisNow.
I say all this, ladies andgentlemen, because there's a
little bit of history lessonthat we got to talk about, right
(01:32):
, and with regards to CaitlinClark and Paige Beckers, we do
have a little bit of high schoolsituations, right, a little bit
of high school situations,right, like they both were in
the same high school class.
So when you see Kaitlyn Clark'shigh school stats yes, the
(01:55):
junior, senior year weren'treally recorded, for whatever
reason these are pretty good,right, paige Beckers, you see,
they're pretty good, right?
So Kaitlyn has 15 points forfreshman year, 27 points for
sophomore year.
Cool, she's hooping.
She's hooping.
Paige, she never dropped below20 points a game 19.9, we round
up around here.
So she never dropped below 20points a game in high school.
(02:18):
She was also rated the numberone player in high school and
again, I said they were in thesame class.
Kaitlyn Clark was rated lowerthan fourth, that's behind Angel
Reese and Cameron Brink.
Ok, so that's what we'retalking about, ladies and
gentlemen.
So, again, there is a little bitof a history between Kaitlyn
(02:38):
and Paige.
Let's even go to college wherewell, college we can talk about
Paige not being healthy andagain on this wing squad.
I think she's going to do well,but health was the main reason
why she won't the number onepick last year.
If I'm being honest with you,like she should have gotten
selected higher than KaitlynClark, but because of the
(03:00):
injuries you can't pick PaigeBeckers over Kaitlyn Clark.
I hear it.
Let's not forget two PaigeBeckers did win player of the
year as a freshman.
That's pretty decent.
So again, ladies and gentlemen,we do have a wonderful player in
Paige Beckers that y'all needto pay attention to, because we
(03:23):
have connections to a CaitlinClark.
Like we got to figure out ifCaitlin Clark succeeds this next
year.
Right, that puts pressure onPaige.
So let's pay attention to that,because if Caitlin's doing well
, people are going to say, ohsee, told you, paige can't do
(03:44):
what Caitlin's doing.
They're going to focus on thestats.
Then they're going to say, see,see, told you, paige can't do
what Caitlin's doing, they'regoing to focus on the stats.
Then they're going to say, see,caitlin wins, paige didn't.
Context does matter, though.
Now let's flip this, though.
Let's say, if Caitlin Clarkstarts to fail, right, the eyes
(04:05):
will now start to look towardsPaige Beckers real quick, like I
think right now, point in time,ladies and gentlemen, we can
actually make the case that it'sfair to say Kaitlyn Clark is
like the WNBA's darling, right.
That I think that's fair.
I think that's fair.
Um, paige, paige, she cool witheverybody, like she might get
(04:33):
invited to the cookout a littlequicker than Caitlin do.
That's all I'm saying.
But I think Paige is viewed alittle bit differently, not as
the WNBA's darling.
What happens if that starts tochange?
What happens if that notionstarts to change a little bit?
Let's also talk about thedevelopment of Paige right
(04:53):
versus Kaitlyn Clark.
Kaitlyn Clark had to go upagainst someone like a Dejanay
Carrington.
Keep in mind, paige Beckers isactually teammates with someone
like a Dejanay Carrington, soyou get to practice against
Dijonay's defense on aconsistent basis.
I'd like to assume she's goingto be cool.
Also, I think, in terms ofdealing with pressure, paige
(05:17):
does that.
That's just my personal opinion, but we're going to find out
too, though, Because, again, ifshe's turning the ball over the
way Kaitlyn was, I can't reallytalk too badly about Caitlyn
right.
I got to say that.
Same energy for Paige Beckers.
But again, the development ofPaige you do want to know,
because I'm sure people willtalk about what I just said.
(05:39):
Oh well, caitlyn had Dejanay asan opponent.
All right, cool.
Well, suck it up, BecauseCaitlyn also had an Aaliyah
Boston.
Paige, don't Everybody's goingto have pros and cons to their
roster.
So I'm looking forward to theexcuses for the Caitlyn Clark
stance let's also talk about tothe initial supporting cast.
(06:03):
Like I just mentioned, paige mayfeel obligated to defer to her
teammates a little bit more so.
Like Kaitlyn had KelseyMitchell and Aaliyah Boston
Aaliyah Boston, second year,kelsey Mitchell, good player,
not revered as the star, theydrafted Kaitlyn Caitlin Clark
(06:27):
number one.
You got to assume she got thegreen light to do whatever she
want within reason.
Paige might not have that samelevel of leash Because, again,
you do have an Arike Agumbawale.
You might want to defer to hera little bit more than a Kelsey
Mitchell or an Aaliyah Boston,and that's just being brutally
(06:48):
honest.
Arike Agumbawale is stillconsidered one of the stars in
the WNBA, so why not defer toher?
Sometimes that's logical Like,would you not?
I would.
Now I try to get a buck inmyself too, but I also want to
make sure that I'm deferringwhat I need to.
(07:09):
Page might have to run throughthat Caitlin didn't have to as
much.
But again, people are going tocare about that aspect.
We're going to just talk aboutstats, end of day.
Then let's also talk about, too,the situation.
Well, didn't Kaitlyn have afuture running mate?
(07:30):
Like, let's say, it doesn'twork out with Kelsey Mitchell,
she still has Aaliyah Boston toplay with.
They're back-to-back number onepicks.
They're bound to get to the NBAfinals at minimum within their
career.
You keep that, paige.
We're still trying to figurethat out.
So maybe, at least, based offmy expectations, I'm assuming
(07:50):
they have enough to get and justmiss the playoff.
Just miss the playoffs.
So let's see who they canpotentially get, but we got to
pair her up with somebody.
So again, ladies and gentlemen,when I'm talking about the top
storyline for the WNBA season,it's got to be what we've been
(08:11):
talking about this entire time.
Is Kaitlyn Clark worse thanPaige Beckers?
And yes, I said is KaitlynClark worse than Paige Beckers?
And yes, I said is CaitlinClark worse than Paige Beckers?
Said it just like that.
And keep in mind too, there's acouple more connections than
just these two history right,Hell, look at the jersey I got
(08:34):
on.
This is Natasha Howard's jersey.
Shout out Tosh.
Right, she's currently onCaitlin Clark's team, so we
definitely got to pay attentionbecause, again, her supporting
cast is top notch.
But what happens if the IndianaI mean you know what happens if
(08:55):
the Indiana Papers start losingto the Dallas Wings?
What happens?
They've been perceived as thebetter team coming into the
season.
A lot of pressure is on KaitlynClark and, for me, I'm paying
attention to the latter part ofthe game, to the later games
between Paige and Kaitlyn.
That's when I'm going to reallystart judging the two, because
now Paige has gotten her feetwet with the WNBA.
Kaitlyn should have a littlebit more cohesion with her team,
(09:18):
a little bit more time to playwith her team.
Plus, you get a full off seasonwith your team.
Let's see what these teams looklike.
But again, ladies and gentlemen,this is the top storyline for
the WNBA's rookie class for the2025 season.
And again, if you don't believeme, that's cool.
(09:39):
I'm telling you all right now,there's no other storyline that
beats this, because this alsotalks about the future of the
WNBA.
If you don't think these twogirls are going to be talking
about for the rest of the, forat least the next five, 10 years
, you're crazy.
We're going to be talking aboutthem in the Olympic Games.
So moments like this are goingto be talked about, are going to
(09:59):
be remembered, so we got tostart paying attention to it now
.
So, yes, this is the topstoryline for the WNBA's 2025
season.
I don't care what y'all say.
Argue with your mom, but I amcurious, though, if y'all have a
difference.
So definitely comment yourthoughts below.
But, ladies and gentlemen, thatis all the time I have for the
(10:22):
episode, so I definitelyappreciate y'all for listening.
Make sure y'all look at theWNBA season.
It is coming on very, very soon.
In fact, may 16th, I believe,is the date that we're talking
about.
So again, ladies and gentlemen,hope y'all pay attention to
that date, tune in and thencontinue to tune into the show.
Make sure you like subscribe,subscribe, comment, tell anyone
(10:43):
who's anyone about the show.
My name is Tray.
I'm the host.
Get a bucket.
Hope you all are having a goodone.
Take care.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.