They don’t call it the basketball capital of the world for nothing. When you have 18 titles between men’s and women’s and are minting stars like Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart, you earn the bragging rights. Add Paige Bueckers, too, and the storybook seems to be heading toward an even better ending for some. In Geno Auriemma’s words, “That’s three years in a row now that Connecticut basketball rules the world.” But a few among the W audience aren’t fans of the privilege it could grant, as opposed to the one Caitlin Clark received…

For starters, Clark fans had a hard time adjusting to the player’s rookie treatment in the league. If you ask the veterans, it was nothing more than that. But the narrative about it really being an unnecessary physical treatment ran large and long. After all, she was welcomed with a sharp shoulder-check by Chennedy Carter in the Indiana-Chicago game, the first matchup for both teams last season. When asked about the same, Carter’s response was direct, and unwarranted: “I ain’t answering no Caitlin Clark questions.” But physicality wasn’t all. Instances of CC and her impact going unacknowledged or receiving a cold shoulder did not escape spectators’ eyes. For one, Taurasi started off with, “Reality is coming. There’s levels to this thing.” 

It wasn’t just the players that took the heat. After Taurasi, Carter, and even Geno Auriemma who had said, “The delusional fan base that follows [Caitlin Clark] disrespected the WNBA players by saying she’s gonna go in that league and tear it apart,” the entire league itself has found itself under fire time and again. Be it snubbing her out of the Olympic roster or not getting her name and stats right in a social media post—WNBA’s official X account had stated that the player finished the season with “321 total dimes”, while she had 337 assists in 2024—more than a few were ready to highlight Clark being disrespected.

We saw Stephen A. Smith, Charles Barkley, Martina Navratilova, and even LeBron James, chime in to call out the ‘unfair treatment’. “(James is) 100% right on these girls hating on Caitlin Clark,” Chuck would popularly say. “What she’s accomplished, give her her flowers… Caitlin Clark, thank you for bringing all that money and shine to the WNBA.” Clark, however, has often denied feeling targeted, emphasizing the ‘physical nature of the league’. Even during her most recent appearance on ‘My Next Guest,’ she doubled down on the sentiment. “I don’t think I was being targeted,” she iterated.

But for Paige Bueckers, the fans note that the beginning already looks different. What sparked the talk? An Ally Bank commercial.

Only a day ago, the league bagged an official banking partner and newest changemaker in Ally Bank. The brand also landed an endorsement deal with the player who isn’t even officially in the league yet—with a recent ad involving Breanna Stewart, Sydney Colson, and Paige Bueckers. Their chemistry was palpable, playful even. Fans couldn’t help but compare this warm reception to Clark’s cold one. “For those of you wondering if Paige’s acceptance into the WNBA will be different that Caitlin’s,” a tweet sharing the video read. 

The WNBA is clearly making room for Bueckers, paving a smooth path for her entry. The same, however, could not be said for CC with all the narratives.

Fans, though, aren’t convinced. With Bueckers’ UConn roots now glaring, their voices are only getting louder.

Paige Bueckers’ WNBA welcome is stirring up fans

Something about the way Paige Bueckers is stepping into the WNBA spotlight feels… smoother. Warmer. More coordinated. Fans, especially those who’ve had Clark’s back through the highs and the chaos, haven’t held back. One frustrated fan summed it up: “We always knew Paige was going to be accepted because of her UConn connections, she was never going to get the CC treatment.” 

Bueckers hails from UConn, a program with a near-untouchable legacy in women’s basketball. The names associated there—Taurasi, Stewart, Moore—have been built into the fabric of the WNBA. Fans aren’t wrong when they point out that Bueckers’ entry feels different because of her school’s reputation.

“Paige came from UConn, and many important WNBA players have played there. It’s obvious they’re going to give her a better reception,” one fan noted. Paige has shared a good dynamic with the UConn alumnae. They were right there when the Huskies lost the 2022 finals and they were right there when she had her storybook ending in 2025. Now, Moore and Taurasi are no longer in the equation in the W, but that isn’t stopping fans from calling out what’s already established. 

“The UConn angle is the main difference between ‘em… Paige won’t have half the BS to deal with Clark did,” said another user. When calls of ‘unfair treatment’ mounted last season, Rebeca Lobo would go through years and years of films to find one answer– were the allegations really true? Why? Because the rookie treatment has always been prevalent in the league and it wasn’t changing for Clark. It did not change for Kelsey Plum or Sabrina Ionescu. And by the looks of it, it might not change for Bueckers either. But only time will tell. For now, though, fans are convinced otherwise. 

“She was accepted when she was still in college. It’s gonna be a cakewalk for her,” said one fan. Well, yes. She made the headlines last year, even if she wasn’t declaring for the draft. Plus, Stewie has always held Bueckers in highest regards. “They go as far as Paige can take them. She’s one of one,” the Liberty had made clear. So fans are salty. 

One fan summed it up: “She’s part of the UConn clan. She was always going to be handled with kid gloves.” There’s no denying that Bueckers benefits from the cushion of her school’s reputation, but the reality will only be known when she enters the league.