Jeff Teague, former NBA champion and current purveyor of hot takes, has decided to hit the brakes on his once-bold claim that Paige Bueckers is better than Caitlin Clark. Why? Because, as Teague so eloquently put it, “injuries hurt.” Yes, Jeff, that’s their whole job.
The debate, much like a reality show feud, reignited after Bueckers’ UConn Huskies fell to JuJu Watkins’ USC squad. On his podcast, Club 520, Teague served up some spicy commentary during an episode that dropped Thursday:
“I think she [Paige] got hurt, that kinda hurt her a little bit. … I think that just set her back. Like, she was super cold before she got hurt. But now I think she good, but I don’t think she JuJu [Watkins], and I don’t think she Caitlin [Clark]. At one point, I used to think she [Paige] better than Caitlin.”
Ouch. That’s the sports equivalent of saying, “You peaked in high school.”
Caitlin Clark: The MVP of Doing More with Less
Teague didn’t just stop at saying Paige lost her edge—he doubled down on his newfound Clark fandom. He praised Caitlin Clark for her ability to turn water into wine—or, in this case, a weaker roster into a legitimate powerhouse.
“I just think Caitlin do a lot more with less.”
Translation: Clark is out there dragging Iowa like a one-woman sled dog team, while Bueckers has been playing alongside a stacked Huskies lineup and still hasn’t outshined her rival. Talk about adding insult to injury.
“Caitlin Before Caitlin”? Let’s Pump the Brakes
Once upon a time, Paige Bueckers was the “It Girl” of women’s basketball—a trendsetter who drew comparisons to the legends of the sport. Some even labeled her as “Caitlin before Caitlin.” But the tides have turned, and Clark’s relentless dominance has turned those whispers into distant echoes.
Clark’s consistent ability to put up jaw-dropping performances—alongside her flair for the dramatic—has elevated her to the face of women’s college basketball. And her stats speak louder than any debate.
Caitlin Clark’s Record-Breaking Collectibles Domination
Need more proof of Clark’s star power? The Professional Sports Authenticator’s annual list of top-collected basketball players just ranked her sixth overall. Not sixth among women—sixth, period. Clark edged out NBA luminaries like Steph Curry and Shaquille O’Neal, with a staggering 77,000 graded trading cards.
And where’s Paige? She’s on the list—just a little further down the line with 5,400 cards graded. No offense, but Caitlin Clark isn’t just winning on the court; she’s dunking on the competition in the collectibles market too.
What’s Next for Paige?
Bueckers still has a shot at redemption. With a potential WNBA entry looming, she could rewrite her narrative and re-enter the Clark debate. Or she could opt to stay another year in college and double down on proving herself. Either way, the ball is still in her court—literally.
As for Jeff Teague, he may want to tread carefully with his hot takes moving forward. Because in this debate, it seems like Caitlin Clark isn’t just winning—she’s running away with the trophy, the records, and, apparently, the trading cards too.