3 Ways Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are Breaking WNBA’s Stereotypes

For a long, long time, the WNBA was seen as a minor league filled with some of the best women’s basketball players in the world, but lacked the excitement of the NBA. That was until Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and now Paige Bueckers joined.

Since the first two came in, the league has seen growth that surpassed even the best brands in the country. They started to capitalize on that growth and hoped it would continue this season once the UConn national championship winner comes through.

Bueckers struggled initially to find her space as the Dallas Wings collectively produced bland and chaotic basketball. Now, slowly, they are finding their rhythm, and the Minnesota native is working her way to become one of their best players.

On the other hand, Clark and Reese are the de facto best players on their respective teams, but that did not come just by looking at their fan following. They have been producing performances that have led to quite a few records to drop in their rookie season.

As both look to build on that, the trio is bringing a different brand of basketball from what fans have been accustomed to watching in the WNBA. The league hopes this breaking of the stereotypes will help bring in more fans than ever.

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers bending the stereotype of young players

As rookies, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese effectively brought their college games to the WNBA. They both were massive success stories, notching quite a few records to their names. Fans wondered if this new batch of players was a cut above what the league had throughout its 29-year existence.

Clark brought in her elite outside shooting and blinding passing abilities that required her teammates to adjust in ways they were never used to before. Reese’s outstanding motor made her a beast on the glass. She notched a rebounds-per-game record that cleared the league’s greatest by nearly 2 per game.

Mind you, these are Hall of Famers Reese cleared, and so did Clark, who made the league’s greatest passers look pedestrian. Many fans also pointed out that Clark’s record could have been much higher if her teammates caught her passes.

This season’s No. 1 overall pick, Paige Bueckers, came back from the concussion protocol and dropped a career-high 35 points. All of these performances from these 23-year-olds are not common in this league. Yes, there have been instances of great rookie performances, but not at the consistency these women have displayed.

Other young players leading the charge for their teams

It is not that Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers are the lone players from this supposed golden generation to take the league by storm. Clark and Reese’s fellow draftees Rickea Jackson and Kamilla Cardoso are hitting their stride.

Paige Bueckers’ fellow draftees Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have been indispensable for the Washington Mystics. They might not be breaking any records, but their play seems polished and ready for the pros. It seems teams are opening up to the idea that young players can be trusted to lead their charge.

That is a major shift in the WNBA, where teams would usually sit their young players to watch and learn before taking on major minutes. Many past 1st round picks have lost developmental time, and the lack of minutes on the court has reduced them to mere role players.

It was also because teams could not trust them to be good when the game was on the line. It could also be blamed on the lack of player development in college, as many did not have the drive or the ability to take their game to the next level. There seems to be something different in this new generation.

Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers proving their games are beyond that of the WNBA regulars

Over the past 28 seasons, either a center or a power forward has won the league MVP 20 times, leaving guards or small forwards with just 8 wins. It shows that the WNBA’s game favored the tall, physical, and athletic.

Guards, expect the likes of Sue Bird or Diana Taurasi or a few others would never get to the top spot as taller players dominated the boards along with getting blocks, steals, and easy scores. With the arrival of Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, that norm seems to be changing.

They have showcased that they can score over the taller players and can outrun or outwit them with their intelligence and athleticism. Similar abilities have been observed with other players of this generation, and many wonder what a JuJu Watkins or Hannah Hidalgo would bring to the league.

Angel Reese, as a forward, could have taken the high road and focused on becoming a better post player so that she could attack those statistical charts and position herself as a prime player. Instead, her latest triple-double is proof that she wants to break the mold of a typical tall player.

She is still learning the point-forward role, something that is usually common in the NBA. It seems coaches are now willing to experiment with players as they display a different level of ‘smarts’ and ability. Such experiments would not have been possible in the WNBA of the past.

Maybe the league is changing after all and breaking the stereotype that women can’t be exciting or elite like the men in the NBA. They are changing the usual ‘boring’ brand of high school basketball that Shaquille O’Neal talked about. They might not excite fans with dunks, but they can also do other things that pique fan interest.

Also Read:

• Caitlin Clark Taunts Rivals with Reggie Miller’s ‘Choke’ Extending Winning Streak as ‘Lucky Charm’
• Angel Reese Thanks Sky Veteran for Support after Extreme Criticism