Who’s the best player in America: Paige Bueckers or Caitlin Clark?
Ros Gold-Onwude, Isis Young & Cassandra Negley discuss Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma’s claim that his star guard is the best player in the country over the all-time leading scorer in Division I history.
Video Transcript
ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: It's time to see who is charging the game, brought to you by Acura, and spotlight some players who are energizing their teams and putting up historical performances in this year's tournament. Geno Auriemma got us charged up. After UConn's second round win over Syracuse, he said this.
We have the best player in America. Just saying that because the numbers in this world of analytics say that she is. And the stat sheet says that she is. And everybody that watched knows it. Ooh, spicy.
[LAUGHTER]
Geno, he never fails to entertain. And in the presser, obviously, hyping up Paige Bueckers. So, Ice, starting with you, is Paige Bueckers the best player in America?
ISIS YOUNG: What I am seeing, from what Geno said, in the numbers, in the numbers, is she's shooting 56% from the field right now in this tournament. She is doing a ton with two freshmen that she has brought with her all season. She is relying on freshmen at this point.
We talked about the kickout three to KK Arnold that was able to seal the deal and get them to the Sweet 16. Sweet 16 was on the line. They needed to close out the game. Nika Muhl fouls out, which is their best perimeter defender. And who decides to guard Dyaisha Fair? Paige Bueckers.
No bigger moment than that. But I'll also just say too, guys, I mean, first game versus Jackson State, she had 28 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, zero turnovers. Zero turnovers.
CASSANDRA NEGLEY: That's good.
ISIS YOUNG: It's a good stat line.
ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Her efficiency while doing that much for UConn, considering all of the turmoil that they've had, it stands out. I get your point. I get your point. So, obviously, the comment is spicy because it's largely been decorated and discussed that Caitlin Clark is the nation's top player right now. So where do you kind of line up with that thought process?
CASSANDRA NEGLEY: Whoa. I got the lookdown. I will argue for Caitlin Clark here. You know, I think, first of all, Paige has Aaliyah Edwards, pro-ready post. Caitlin has had to adjust without Monika Sassano for the first time in her career, Hannah Stuelke down there.
I think Aaliyah Edwards is the better person there. But Caitlin is most of Iowa's offense. And if we're talking about the tournament, in the games that we saw, we watched those back-to-back. If you're looking at Paige Bueckers, as we saw her against Syracuse, like, the lane was as clear as a Los Angeles day, OK? Caitlin Clark is out there battling against this West Virginia defense. It is cloudy. It's like Midwest winter, OK?
[LAUGHTER]
So I think if you're looking at analytics, you do have to take that into account. Caitlin isn't going to have oversized stats on a day like today.
ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Yeah. On a game where they only scored 64 points, she put up 32. That's half their buckets. In such a low-scoring game, I feel like those points count for even more. She still found a way, even though she was quiet in the fourth quarter. I know you want to-- I know you want to go--
ISIS YOUNG: Real quiet.
ROS GOLD-ONWUDE: Don't forget how much better she makes her teammates too, leading the country in assists. So there's an argument for a lot of talent in the country. And, certainly, no one's going to argue that Paige Bueckers or that Caitlin Clark aren't exciting, talented, electric players to watch. Unlock your energy with the all-electric ZDX. Order now at Acura.com.
