The rivalry between two of the biggest names in women’s college basketball, Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, dates back to 2021. One has already made a name for herself in the pros, while the other is ready to do the same, with all eyes on her 2025 debut. But you know what? The competition between these two isn’t just about their performances on the pitch; It’s their die-hard fans competing against each other.

And let’s just say tempers are heating up after a Bueckers fan recently shared a viral taunt. Mariah Rose posted a video that quickly gained traction. In it, she made a statement that sent Caitlin Clark’s followers into an uproar. She claimed “She (Paige) was Caitlin Clark before Caitlin Clark.”

Not only did this spark a debate about who really deserves the title of basketball queen, but Rose also blamed the referees for UConn’s loss to Iowa last year. And CC’s stans didn’t want it. But where did it all start? In 2021, to be precise.

When both players had standout freshman seasons, it set the stage for what was to come. The Iowa graduate and UConn star was named Freshmen of the Year, sparking fierce debate over who was more deserving of the award.

Clark averaged 26.6 points per game to lead the way in scoring for Iowa, while Bueckers led UConn with 20.0 points per game and led them to a Final Four appearance. Despite the numbers, Bueckers took home the Naismith Trophy while Clark’s supporters felt she had been robbed.

Over the years, their careers followed two very different paths. While Clark continued to break records at Iowa, Bueckers’ career was marred by injuries that kept her from really getting going until now. After a year recovering from knee surgery, the guard led UConn to the NCAA Tournament semifinals, where they fell to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa.

And that brings us to today. With Bueckers’ WNBA debut just around the corner and Clark coming off the most outstanding rookie season, the rivalry between her and Clark is flaring up again. And this new video made more than a few waves, as the Indiana Fever star’s fans fired back with a vengeance.

Caitlin Clark fans fire back at Paige Bueckers online

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers’ fans are just as ambitious as the players themselves. One fan commented on the video: “The referees wanted Caitlin to win a championship? I guess those referees took the day off of the championship game. What a shitty way to build up Paige by belittling the most popular basketball player in the world.”

That means CC supporters strongly reject the claim that Iowa’s victory was the result of incumbency bias. And to be fair, calling her the “most popular basketball player in the world” isn’t an exaggeration. Ultimately, Clark’s rookie season helped break the WNBA’s 24-year-old attendance record.

Another said: “It doesn’t surprise me that you need to mention CC to get more views.” The Fever Guard fans believe that Paige supporters often invoke Caitlin’s name to gain attention because Clark’s marketability and popularity are simply unmatched at the moment.

A third straight jump took us back to last year’s semi-finals. “Maybe Paige shouldn’t have turned her back on inbound 🚶🏻‍♀️ Did the moving screen call suck too? Yes, but that was the definition of a moving screen 😂.”

With only 3.9 seconds remaining and Iowa leading 70-69, UConn was called for an illegal screen, giving Iowa possession of the ball. Then, in a final drive, CC threw the ball off Paige Bueckers’ back during an inbounds play to kill the clock and seal the win.

Paige’s fans thought the officiating was questionable, but Clark’s supporters argue it was purely Caitlin’s basketball IQ. Either way, it was a memorable moment in their rivalry. Then the comment turned to the “women for women” aspect.

“Beating down one woman to build up another is just ugly. “All boats rise together,” one wrote. Amid the heated debates, they took a step back to advocate for women’s empowerment. Your point? Let’s celebrate both athletes for what they bring to the game rather than pitting them against each other.

Meanwhile, a new fan chimed in and said: “But does everyone love Paige? 🤷‍♀️ I for one would set my alarm to see Caitlin playing at 5am. I wouldn’t do that for any other player in America, so tell me again how much everyone loves Paige?”

This is personal. Fans are going out of their way to highlight how deep their devotion to Clark goes. Well, someone who welcomed you into a community you now love plays a special role.

But whether it’s Paige Bueckers in the spotlight as she likely lands with the Dallas Wings in the 2025 draft or Caitlin Clark solidifying her position, one thing is certain: Both will go down as two of the greatest college athletes in history professionals. But for now, as they say, we move on.