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Iowa Hawkeyes super Caitlin Clark is the best player in women’s college basketball today.
Right?…
Well, legendary UConn Huskies coach Geno Auriemma doesn’t seem to agree. In fact, Auriemma says that his star player, Paige Bueckers, is the “best player in America” and believes it’s not even a debate.
"We have the best player in America. Just saying that because the numbers, in this world of analytics, say that she is. And the stat sheet says that she is. And everybody that watched knows it"
– Geno Auriemma on Paige Bueckers pic.twitter.com/xEoiXuEBQk
— UConn on SNY (@SNYUConn) March 26, 2024
“We have the best player in America,” Auriemma said after UConn’s 72-64 victory over Syracuse in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. “And, you know, just saying that because the numbers in this world of analytics, the numbers say that she is.”
But he didn’t stop there.
“And the whole stat sheet says that she is and everybody that watched knows it, and we’re fortunate. And we get to go back to where it ended for us last year, and I think we’re a different team, different mindset, and we’re hoping for a different outcome.”
Bueckers was the No. 1 overall recruit in the country in 2020 according to ESPN, ahead of fellow stars such as Angel Reese (2), Cameron Brink (3) and, yes, even Clark (4).
She starred right away for the Huskies, averaging 20 points, 5.8 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game as a true freshman. Bueckers became the first freshman to be named National Player of the Year.
But injuries hampered her throughout her sophomore campaign and torn ACL in August of 2022 cost her the entirety of her junior season.
This year, Bueckers is back healthy and back to her best. The senior averages 21.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for the Huskies.
Clark, meanwhile, averages 31.8 points, 8.8 assists and 7.3 rebounds.
But Bueckers grades out as the far better defender according to Sports Reference.
Bueckers’ box plus/minus, “a box score estimate of the points per 100 possessions a player contributed above a league-average player, translated to an average team” is 23.7, compared to 20.5 for Clark.
Bueckers also grades out better in win shares per 40 minutes played at .410 to Clark’s .402.
So, you make the call.
Caitlin Clark or Paige Bueckers?