WNBA legend slams general managers for disrespecting Caitlin Clark in annual survey

Who would you rather start a WNBA franchise with: Caitlin Clark or Paige Bueckers? That was the question in this year’s survey of general managers conducted by the league before the start of the season.

Before the 2025 season, managers were asked which player they wanted to start the franchise with, and 50% said Clark. This year, with Clark entering his third season after an injury-riddled campaign, playing in just 12 games, and Bueckers coming off a spectacular rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year honors, GMs’ minds changed dramatically.

Clark only received 20% of the vote, while Bueckers led with 33% of the vote. That’s where WNBA legend, Lisa Leslie comes in.

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Leslie, who will soon have his portrait erected outside the Crypto.com arena, said that those general managers who did not vote for Clark, “will probably be fired.”

He didn’t hold back as he explained his response to the survey saying, “This is a money business and the money is about Caitlin Clark.”

Leslie is here. Reports say, Caitlin Clark has driven nearly 25%+ of the WNBA’s postseason career over the past two seasons. Clark has been the driving force behind record numbers, record ratings, record merchandise sales, massive franchise appreciation, a $2.2B media deal, expansion inflation, and more. She is not only for the Indiana Fever, but the WNBA’s golden ticket. His economic impact is off the charts.

BASKETBALL LEGEND LISA LESLIE PRAISES CAITLIN CLARK, WNBA SUCCESS

Leslie reinforced these facts in her appearance on “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith saying, “Never before in the history of the WNBA, have we had teams force players to play in big arenas.”

Lisa Leslie attends the Women’s Gold Medal basketball game between Team France and Team USA at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Aug. 11, 2024, at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France. (Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)

Just look at this amazing figure between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers.

In the season opener in Indiana, as the Fever took on the Dallas Wings, the arena was apparently sold out with 16,000+ in attendance. It was Clark vs. Bueckers, and the addition of the WNBA’s No. 1 pick, Azzi Fudd. It was obviously a hot ticket. Fast forward to game two of the Dallas Wings, holding Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream. They couldn’t even sell out a 7,000-seat stadium.

“If you’re a GM, obviously you have to make money,” Leslie continued.

The truth. As a GM, your job is to build rosters, understand finances as they relate to contracts and player value, while having a healthy, long-term vision that leads to championships. Income is certainly a factor, not the main role, but an important one. Clark’s economic impact is far greater than Buecker’s.

Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark reacts to fans before the WNBA All-Star basketball game in Indianapolis on July 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, file)

We can certainly have a discussion about who is the better player right now, and who will ultimately help lead their next team(s) to the championship(s), but I’m with Leslie on this one. As she said, “I’m going with Caitlin Clark.”

When you look at the sale — even though Kevin Durant’s media company, The Boardroom, believes Bueckers is more marketable than Clark — it makes no sense for the GMs to pick. Just add this to the long list of snubs and disrespect Caitlin Clark has received over the past few years.

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Regarding the stats between the two this season, Clark is averaging 22 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Bueckers is averaging 20.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Bueckers has been more efficient from the three, some say he is a better defender, and obviously takes better care of the basketball with fewer turnovers, there is no doubt that Clark is making a big impact on everything on the court.

I hope these GMs wise up before they are told to pack their stuff.