CLEVELAND — Their memories are unclear.
They remember playing in AAU tournaments and Team USA practices. They also remember winning gold medals and making deep 3-point shots. Clark, the girl with the brown ponytail, had unlimited shooting range and seemed to predict the future. Bueckers, the blonde, stayed calm with the ball, unfazed by opponents or the constant attention.
But when asked about their first impression of each other, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and UConn’s Paige Bueckers offer general, respectful responses without many details.
This may be because the years they spent together on the travel circuit across the Midwest or occasionally competing internationally seem distant. In some ways, they truly are.
The NCAA Tournament that Clark grew up watching in Iowa and Bueckers followed from the outskirts of Minneapolis has changed. In the past, there were significant differences in March Madness between the men’s and women’s tournaments, including facilities, swag, TV ratings, and branding.
However, this is no longer the case.
This change is evident as Clark and Iowa consistently play in front of sold-out crowds, and Bueckers has recovered from knee injuries that previously threatened her remarkable skills, which led her to become the first freshman to win the AP Player of the Year award.
Their resurgence comes at the perfect time, as they have both contributed to the increased interest in the women’s tournament and will now take the spotlight at the Final Four.
When Clark and the top-seeded Hawkeyes face Bueckers and third-seeded UConn on Friday night in the Final Four, they will not be playing in a small gym with only parents, scouts, and college coaches in attendance.
Instead, they will compete in a fully packed arena, with millions watching on television and on social media, including notable figures like LeBron James, Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, and aspiring players from all over.
Women’s basketball has had stars in the past, but none quite like these two.
While Iowa coach Lisa Bluder expressed that she didn’t want the national semifinal to be portrayed as “Caitlin vs. Paige,” others seem to be okay with this matchup due to its significance for their teams and women’s basketball overall.
“It’s a society that values stars,” said UConn coach Geno Auriemma. “It’s a world driven by celebrities, stars, and influencers.”
Both Clark and Bueckers are accustomed to this star-driven world, possibly because it’s all they’ve ever known.
BIRD VS. MAGIC 2.0? YES AND NO
There are clear similarities to the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, which began when Johnson and Michigan State faced Bird and Indiana State in the 1979 NCAA championship.
Auriemma mentioned, “All of a sudden those two particular players came on and it just lit everything up, and it just took off from there. So it needs some stars. It needs people that have the right personality, the right game. And we have that now.”
Bueckers and Clark don’t see themselves as competitors in the traditional sense. Instead, they feel they are riding a wave of popularity that has been growing for years, even before they became famous.
When asked why interest in women’s basketball has increased, Clark doesn’t credit her record-breaking career or skill, but rather the increased exposure.
According to Clark, the women’s game has always been excellent. It has just taken a long time for the world to recognize it.
Clark mentioned that the platforms available now should have been accessible for a long time. She acknowledged the incredible talents that have been part of the game over the past 10 or 20 years.
Unlike previous talents, Clark and Bueckers have been able to promote themselves and their game in unprecedented ways, thanks to the relaxed rules on name, image, and likeness compensation.
FOLLOWING LEGENDS
Both of them understand the responsibility of being role models, having looked up to college and WNBA stars Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen in the past.
“They were everything that I aspired to be,” Bueckers said. “And they were successful.”
Bueckers has always been dominant from the beginning. Clark emphasized that she consistently leads her teams to success, highlighting her winning mentality.
Clark and Bueckers' perceptions have transformed over the last three years, but Bueckers has remained dominant.
ROLE REVERSAL
It was Bueckers, not Clark, who was the top recruit in the Class of 2020. It was Bueckers, not Clark, who was recruited by the Huskies, though Auriemma did point out this week “if Caitlin really wanted to come to UConn, she would have called me.” It was Bueckers, not Clark, who won that first meeting in 2021 and became the “media darling,” as Bueckers put it Friday.
Clark is now in that position, breaking the NCAA Division I scoring record and playing fearlessly, which has brought her a lot of attention.
Security had to clear a path on Friday to ensure she could move between media opportunities. When UConn and Bueckers arrived later, the crowd was half the size.
Even though the attention has brought new fans to her sport, the 22-year-old Clark is not seeking the spotlight, despite people wanting to label her as The Star.
In the past, it was Bueckers; in recent years, it’s been Clark. Next spring, it might be Bueckers again, or perhaps a new player like USC’s JuJu Watkins or Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo. In the future, it could be a young woman who was inspired by Clark and Bueckers.
Clark doesn't view herself or Bueckers as the final outcome of something, but rather the most recent parts of a chain that is becoming stronger with each season.
'It doesn't have to be one superstar that is the ultimate, just like I think there doesn't have to be one ultimate team,' Clark explained. 'The young talent will only improve.'
CLEVELAND — They have hazy memories.