Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers stood out as top high school recruits in the 2020 class. Both became No. 1 overall picks in consecutive WNBA seasons. However, fans strongly disagree with the league’s differential treatment of the two players regarding the Rookie of the Year (ROTY) award.
Clark became a star for the Indiana Fever. Despite her injury keeping her off the court this season, her averages still placed her among the best in the WNBA. Meanwhile, Bueckers lifted the Dallas Wings with her individual performances, standing out as a leader in scoring and assists.
A surprise for Bueckers and her supporters
According to Firstsportz, Bueckers appeared as a guest on The Jennifer Hudson Show. Before she went on stage, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert surprised her by announcing she had won ROTY. Engelbert handed her the trophy and posed for photos with her.
Paige Bueckers is the 2025 WNBA @Kia Rookie of the Year 🏆
Averaging 19.2 PPG, 5.4 APG, 3.9 RPG, Bueckers led the @dallaswings as one of the most dynamic rookies the league has ever seen.
#KiaROY | #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/VtT01Qwzr0— WNBA (@WNBA) September 16, 2025
But when fans watched the video on social media, they reacted with anger. In this case, the league went out of its way to make the ROTY award look special. And that stands out because when Caitlin Clark won the award, Engelbert only called the Fever team phone. She simply announced the winner on speakerphone while Clark was at practice with her teammates.
Now, WNBA fans question the commissioner’s actions. Why didn’t she also visit the Fever to present Clark the award in person?
From Clark’s supporters’ perspective, the league seems to downplay her impact and momentum. Some even believe the WNBA did this to boost players like Bueckers instead of recognizing Clark’s star power.
