Caitlin Clark’s recent recognition as TIME The magazine’s 2024 Female Athlete of the Year award brilliantly shined a spotlight on women’s basketball and increased its visibility like never before. But that same spotlight has cast a looming shadow over her NCAA successor, Paige Bueckers. As Clark’s dominance rewrites the narrative, the comparisons to Bueckers only intensify, adding to the pressure on the UConn star in her final college season. Can Bueckers emerge from Clark’s shadow or will the comparisons continue to shape her legacy?

The contrast between the two stars couldn’t be more pronounced. Often praised for her smooth playmaking and efficiency, Bueckers averages 18.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists on an impressive 56.3% shooting percentage. On the other hand, Clark’s impressive 31.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game in her senior year continue to overshadow her presence on the court despite her move to the WNBA.

However, it’s not just the stats that separate Clark from Bueckers – it’s also the strength of the stars. Last Saturday’s viewing figures showed that the gap between the two programs is widening. The Louisville-UConn game drew 466,000 viewers on FOX, while Tennessee-Iowa with Clark on the same network drew 560,000 viewers.

These numbers underscore what many fans have long argued: Paige may be a great player, but Clark is a phenomenon. And as the comparison heats up, social media is abuzz with reactions, fueling the debate even further.

The Clark Effect: Why Paige Bueckers falls short

“Paige is a very “boring” star. That’s why it was never believable when people said she was Clark before Clark. Caitlin Clark has been must-see TV for three years, even during bad games.said one X user.

UConn’s lopsided 85-52 win over Louisville also played a role in the disparity, as noted by another X user, who defended the comparisons by saying, “The UConn game was a blast; That’s why viewer numbers have fallen.“Meanwhile, Iowa’s closer game against Washington State kept fans glued to their screens, with moments like Iowa native Jada Gyamfi hitting her first three-pointer of the year in front of a cheering crowd.

While Bueckers endures a challenging final season, UConn continues to dominate the court. But the spotlight remains elsewhere. One user noted: “Post Caitlin Clark, Iowa has more viewers than Paige,“, underscoring the undeniable appeal that Clark has on audiences. Another reinforced this sentiment by posting: “Iowa is still the biggest TV draw I see.”

Fans acknowledge the situational differences between games. “Late start and a loss for UConn, Iowa had a better time and it was a closer game.one X user noted, adding nuance to the debate.

For Paige Bueckers, the challenge isn’t just keeping up with Caitlin Clark’s numbers, but also living up to the astronomical expectations of what it means to be the face of women’s college basketball. And as the debate continues, the answer seems to become clearer with each passing game.