Connecticut Huskies basketball star Paige Bueckers has struggled to find the nationwide acceptance because she doesn’t have an African-American rival like Caitlin Clark had in Angel Reese, according to journeyman former NBA player Etan Thomas.
Writing for the Guardian, the 46-year-old former first-round draft pick ignited controversy online by suggesting the college rivalry between Clark, Iowa’s white sensation, and Reese, a black former star at LSU, was central to the popularity of the 2023 and 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournaments.
‘Women’s college basketball ratings surged in the last two NCAA Tournaments, some of that was to do with the excellence of the players on show. But some of it was for less edifying reasons,’ wrote Thomas, who has also worked as a poet, freelance writer and activist. ‘Much of the media made Reese the villain to Clark’s heroine after the Black Princess upstaged the Great White Hope in the 2023 NCAA Tournament championship game.’
The game, which remains among the highest-rated in the history of women’s basketball, is best remembered for Reese directing a few playful taunts in Clark’s direction. Specifically, Reese recreated wrestler John Cena’s ‘You Can’t See Me’ hand-waving gesture, which is something Clark did towards another player earlier in the tournament.
‘The viral image of Reese defiantly waving her hand in front of her face – the same taunt Clark had used in a previous game – transformed Clark and Reese from great players to lightning rods for racial animus,’ Thomas wrote.
‘People who had no interest in women’s basketball suddenly became fanatics – in every sense of the word – for all the worst reasons. They were there to cheer Clark’s whiteness, and attack Reese’s Blackness, not their talent.’
UConn guard Paige Bueckers (5) runs through the student section at Gampel Pavilion after a game against South Dakota State in the second round of the ongoing NCAA Tournament
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky look on during the game on June 1, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
Clark and Reese remained rivals while playing for the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, respectively, during their wildly popular rookie seasons in the WNBA.
‘Meanwhile, there has been no Black villain for Bueckers to compete against,’ Thomas wrote. ‘The fact that that has meant she has gained less attention and adoration from middle America says a lot about the state of the country.’
To be fair, UConn did lose to seventh-ranked USC and their African-American superstar, JuJu Watkins, in a 72-70 thriller on December 21. But while the two schools are preparing for an Elite 8 rematch on Monday night, the game will be played without Watkins, who was lost to a season-ending knee injury in the first round of the tournament.
But Thomas believes white America’s antipathy towards Bueckers comes from her beliefs, background and personal life, all of which includes strong connections to black friends and loved ones.
‘Perhaps it’s because, unlike Clark, Bueckers has always been outspoken about issues off the court,’ Thomas wrote. ‘At the 2021 ESPYs, Bueckers was named the college athlete of the year. She used her acceptance speech to celebrate and honor Black women in particular.
‘Meanwhile, during Ramadan Bueckers cooks breakfast for her muslim teammate, Jana El-Alfy, sings gospel songs (the Black versions) before games, has a level of connection with her Black teammates that truly resembles a sisterhood, was raised by her Black stepmother, has Black stepbrothers and sisters, has had Black boyfriends has designated herself an ally to her Black teammates on multiple occasions, not just in her ESPYs speech.’
Thomas also chided fans WNBA fans who embraced Clark for being a white superstar in a largely black league.
‘When she was drafted into the WNBA last year Clark repeatedly asked fans not to weaponize her, but it didn’t stop her becoming a dubious hero for bigots, who often spewed racist abuse at her Black opponents,’ Thomas continued. ‘Clark had become a huge star, because of her sheer talent – she was an WNBA All-Star and rookie of the year in 2024 – but also because of her supposed rivalry with Reese, a rivalry both players have played down (and, it has to be said, profited financially from).
‘That’s not to say all of Clark’s fans fall into this category nor is this the fault of Clark, who just wants to play basketball.’
Reese recreated wrestler John Cena’s ‘You Can’t See Me’ hand gesture for Clark in 2023
Etan Thomas has become a poet, writer and activist since leaving the NBA years earlier
Of course, not everyone agreed with Thomas’ opinions on why Clark was more popular at the college level than Bueckers, who is widely expected to be the first pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft.
‘Or hear me out,’ one critic wrote on X. ‘Paige simply isn’t nearly as good as Caitlin Clark is. And THAT is what it comes down to.’
‘Paige is great,’ one X user wrote. ‘CC is extraordinary. It really is that simple.’
Another blamed Bueckers’ diminished popularity on the torn ACL she suffered in 2022-23, which cost her a year of basketball.
‘This article is blatant race-baiting,’ the critic wrote. ‘Let’s be real: Paige Bueckers didn’t “miss out” on the Caitlin Clark-level spotlight because she supported racial equity. She missed it because she was injured for two years. Torn ACL, missed all of 2022-23. Year before that? Missed 19 games with another knee injury.”
For what it’s worth, Clark did rankle white conservatives by acknowledging the existence of white privilege while accepting the award for TIME Athlete of the Year.
‘I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a white person, there is privilege,’ Clark said.
Her comments drew criticism in some quarters, notably from commentator and podcaster Megyn Kelly who bemoaned Clark’s ‘self-flagellation’.
‘She’s on the knee all but apologizing for being white and getting attention,’ Kelly wrote on social media.