It is always a dilemma to choose between a current and a former teammate. But for Kate Martin, the choice was even tougher. For she had to start a bench-cut scenario! Her choices? A former teammate, a present teammate, and a WNBA MVP! Now, at the moment, the WNBA realm might look clouded due to the CBA stalemate. With no solution in sight, Adam Silver’s push for a solution faced some serious backlash from Nneka Ogwumike.
But despite all the negatives, the players are trying to keep things as jovial as possible. As Martin is currently focusing on her Unrivaled stint, it looks like she is very much impressed with her fellow mate, Paige Bueckers. So much so that she almost ignored Caitlin Clark!
Why Kate Martin Snubbed Caitlin Clark?
Clark is surely the megastar of the WNBA currently. Heaping praises on her, New York Liberty owner Joe Tsai spoke about Clark’s impact on the league. But when it came to her former Iowa Hawkeye teammate, the first name Martin could remember was that of Bueckers.
In a recent appearance on the ‘We Need To Talk Now’ podcast, host Alicia Jay asked her to start bench-cutting Clark, Bueckers, and Wilson. And the first words that came out of Martin were, “First one that comes to my mind is Paige’s mid-range. It’s like a layup for her. It’s impressive.”
Immediately, sensing the probable controversy her answer could create, Martin checked herself. The 25-year-old quickly added, “I’m not doing that. You can’t get me caught up. No, thank you.”
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Now then, the Illinois-born’s dilemma was palpable. On one hand, her chemistry with Clark is being highly talked about. Playing together at Iowa, the duo led their college team to back-to-back championship appearances. In a recent exchange, Clark and Martin teased each other for a physical encounter playfully.
However, the fact that Bueckers’ layups crossed her mind speaks volumes about how the Breeze BC star is picking up the pace. Interestingly, the Golden State Valkyries star’s recent reply reveals a lot about the Clark vs Bueckers rivalry.
Kate Martin’s Dilemma Paints A Vivid Picture Of Caitlin Clark And Paige Bueckers’ Rivalry
The writing is pretty much on the wall. If Clark was the star for 2024, it was clearly Bueckers who stole the spotlight in 2025. Both the rookie debutants were phenomenal, winning the Rookie of the Year honors. While the Indiana Fever star garnered 20,711 fans to watch her play, the 23-year-old Dallas Wings star stunned with her performance.
In just one season, Bueckers is being widely regarded as one of the best mid-range scorers. She also has some stellar numbers to show, shooting more than 51 percent from inside the arc. She recently upped the ante by snubbing Clark as she praised the Indiana Fever.
Thus, while Clark was unavailable last year due to injury, she will be back for 2026. And the fans cannot wait to see how their epic rivalry unfolds.