GOAT status
- Thread starter 18IsTheMan
- Start date
As a player, I’d take Bueckers over Clark. Paige has a better overall game and more translatable skills. Clark has more range (or maybe Paige just hasn’t had the opportunity to display her range). Just feels that Caitlin has to be in a specific system designed for her to succeed, whereas Paige can fit into any system. But for now, can’t deny Caitlin’s marketing appeal. She’ll have that for a year or 2, then gone if she doesn’t avg >25 ppg in the WNBA. Not sure how many logo 3s she’d be allowed to jack up. That’s a big part of her appeal.
I don't think you can really assign one. It's nearly impossible in college. Too many teams and too many players, most of whom don't play each other. I think all you can do is have a category of GOATs, and she would surely be in that group (I suppose).
There were a number of great players from the 90s but they did not benefit from the wall-to-wall coverage that Clark had b/c of the concerted effort to more aggressively market the women's game.
If I am trying to sell tickets, no one. If I am trying to win, there is a handful. Cheryl Miller, Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie, Lauren Jackson, Breanna Stewart, A'ja Wilson. Versatile Bigs that could do everything. Guards are exciting, but they don't quite dominate in the Women's game like they do in the Men's game right now. For Guards, I would have to add Sheryl Swoopes, and Diana Taurasi in there. For modern players, Clark is going to have some battles with Sabrina Ionescu too.
Most of those players simply didn't have the media coverage. Clark's profile was enormously boosted b/c she happened to be the best player in WBB at a time when there was a concerted effort to more aggressively market the game.
What about Sheryl Swoopes? Was she any good? Well, I know she was good, I just don't follow the sport to know how good. I just recall her being the first female basketball player I'd ever really heard of. She got a lot of press for a WBB player back in the 90s.
The difference with CC is she is also the leader in assists this year. So it is not like she is doing nothing but hogging the ball and taking all the shots.
I do not think the is "The Goat". I think she is one of the best to ever play NCAAW Basketball. But without championships to back it up, she could not be the greatest ever. While I did not pull for her team, I do recognize her greatness and am a huge fan of that. I think she is well deserving of all the media attention she is and has gotten. She is an amazing player to watch play the game. Those long-range 3's are amazing to see, when it is not against the Gamecocks of course.
She will have some learning to do at the next level, just as any other rookie WNBA player. All those hand-check fouls that went her way in NCAAW basketball will not be called in the WNBA.
Yep. She had 346 assists in 39 games to lead the NCAAW. Second place was Nika Muhl of Ucon at 253 over 39 games. So 93 assists better than second place. While she is a big-time scorer, no one can truthfully say she is a ball hog at all.
While I would agree that Clark is not a ball hog, I would bet her usage rate is probably tops in the nation and I don't think it would be close. She has the ball in her hands most of the time like a Lebron in his prime or a Luka now. That contributes to high scoring and assist numbers if the player is any good. I don't see her usage rate being the same in the W. The talent surrounding her will demand the ball being the hands of others at times. Starting with Aaliyah Boston. Boston will gladly accept the feeds off of Clark's drives, but she will probably have to dump it down to Boston in the post a good deal. Rarely will get an assist for that. So, there will be an adjustment that she and her fans will have to get used to.
I added Swoopes when I mentioned a couple guards. Swoopes is the player I would compare most to Clark without the shooting range. Swoopes is the most dominant scorer at the guard position that I have ever seen in the women's game. ....and she won the National Championship on an underdog type team. Probably explains why she feels a certain way about all the attention that Clark has received.
