While the Indiana Fever may not be preoccupied with the 2025 WNBA Draft at the moment, they would be wise to set their sights on UConn Huskies’ Paige Bueckers as a potential complement to their rising star, Caitlin Clark. The duo could forge a partnership akin to the electrifying tandem of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks’ dynamic duo has propelled the team to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011, dispatching the Minnesota Timberwolves in a series where Doncic’s otherworldly 36-point outburst, with 20 points in the first quarter alone, set the stage for a showdown with the Boston Celtics.
Meanwhile, Clark has already etched her name in Fever lore with her first 30-point game in the WNBA, but her team is mired in a dismal stretch, losing eight of their last nine contests (.111) as they fight to avoid the Eastern Conference cellar.
It’s evident that Clark and Aliyah Boston could benefit from an additional offensive catalyst, and Bueckers, who elected to remain at UConn for an extra year instead of entering the draft, could be the missing piece to that puzzle as she continues her recovery from injury.
Bueckers’ accolades speak volumes about her talent: the AP Player of the Year, Naismith College Player of the Year, and USBWA National Player of the Year in 2021, while also setting the record for assists by a freshman as the Huskies advanced to the Final Four.
Her ability to facilitate and create scoring opportunities could prove invaluable, serving as a secondary playmaker alongside Clark and assuming the offensive reins when the former Iowa Hawkeye needs a breather or strategic adjustments, much like Irving’s role in supporting Doncic for the Mavericks.
Despite an injury-riddled sophomore season (2022) that required surgery on her right ankle, a fractured shin, and a previous meniscus ligament tear that lingered into her redshirt year, during which she also tore her ACL, Bueckers returned in 2023/24 to guide the Huskies back to the Final Four.
Importantly, her ability to bounce back from these setbacks suggests her body can withstand the rigors of the professional game, making her an intriguing prospect for the Fever in 2025, should they choose to pursue her services.
Clark’s Clash with Angel Reese on the Horizon
Clark will aim to secure her second WNBA victory as the Fever face off against Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky, rekindling the rivalry between the two NCAA standouts. Reese emerged victorious with the LSU in the 2023 national championship clash against Clark, who exacted revenge by denying Reese a chance to defend the title in 2024.
Now, their fortunes have diverged, with the Fever mired in a prolonged slump in 2024, while the Sky sit at an even .500 record in the Eastern Conference with three wins and three losses as they collide in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The highly anticipated matchup will take place at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, with tip-off scheduled for 12:00 ET/09:00 PT on June 1.
