Could Caitlin Clark have been on the same team as Paige Bueckers? Revisiting Iowa superstar's recruiting history

Modified Apr 02, 2024 07:19 GMT

If Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers have been on the same team

In the highly anticipated 2024 women's Final Four, basketball fans are gearing up for a showdown between Iowa and UConn, where two top guards, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, will face off.

Clark's scorching performance of 41 points against No. 3 LSU in the Elite Eight avenged Iowa's title-game loss in 2023, while Bueckers logged 28 points in the Huskies' upset over No. 1 USC.

Though remarkable, both stars missed a national title. In 2023, Clark nearly won at Iowa, but LSU claimed the crown. Similarly, Bueckers' UConn team fell short versus South Carolina in the 2022 final.

These elite guards from the 2020 recruiting class share a path. They're Midwest natives who competed against each other in EYBL and teamed up with USA's youth squads. Clark and Bueckers wrote parallel basketball stories as high school phenoms.

Could Caitlin Clark have been on the same team as Paige Bueckers?

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers could have joined forces, given their highly-ranked status in the 2020 recruiting class. Bueckers was rated the No. 1 overall player, while Clark held the No. 4 spot.

Despite their intertwined basketball stories and time playing together for Team USA’s U-19 squad, they opted for different college paths, with Clark choosing Iowa and Bueckers signing with UConn.

Their collegiate choices reflected their playing styles and ambitions. Clark became Iowa's offensive linchpin, averaging 19.3 shot attempts per game and accounting for 31% of the Hawkeyes’ field goals since 2020.

In contrast, Bueckers favored a more balanced approach, actively recruiting talent to UConn to share the responsibility. This strategy mirrored UConn's historical dominance built on collective effort rather than individual prowess.

In freshman year, their skills shone brightly on the national court, delivering stellar NCAA tournament plays. An eagerly awaited showdown saw Bueckers' UConn emerge victorious over Clark's Iowa in the Sweet 16 clash. Bueckers amassed 18 points, eight assists, and nine rebounds, while Clark tallied 21 points and five assists.

As college careers conclude, both athletes prepare for the WNBA transition. Clark enters 2024 Draft, projected top pick by Indiana Fever. However, Bueckers returns to UConn for another season, anticipated as a potential top selection in the 2025 or 2026 draft.

As Clark and Beuckers are set to square off in the final four, who do you think will have the last laugh?

Also Read: "Caitlin Clark was the better player this year": Shannon Sharpe names his top pick above Paige Bueckers ahead of Sweet 16

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Edited by Parag Jain