WNBA GMs pick the better player between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers to start a franchise

Bueckers’ rise comes after her Rookie of the Year campaign with the Dallas Wings, where her efficiency, scoring versatility, and all-around game made a major impression on league executives.

The biggest factor appears to be Bueckers’ complete profile as a franchise piece.

Why Paige Bueckers edged Caitlin Clark in WNBA GM voting

She averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists as a rookie, while shooting efficiently and showing enough off-ball ability to fit into almost any system. That type of versatility is valuable for GMs thinking beyond one season.

Clark’s drop does not mean her stock has collapsed. She remains one of the WNBA’s most important players, but her injury-shortened 2025 season limited her to just 13 games and likely affected how GMs viewed immediate reliability.

Clark is still viewed as a transcendent offensive engine because of her range, passing, and gravity. Bueckers, however, is seen by many evaluators as a cleaner two-way fit with fewer questions about efficiency and ball security.

A’ja Wilson earning 20% also shows that GMs still value proven dominance, while Malonga’s 13% signals how highly teams view her long-term upside.

But the headline is clear. When asked who they would build around today, more WNBA GMs chose Bueckers than anyone else.

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