Paige Bueckers is on her Rookie of the Year award tour.
Bueckers, the No.1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, won the prestigious accolade by a landslide, securing 70 of 72 votes, and the WNBA has rightly pulled out all the stops in promoting their newest superstar.
Cathy Engelbert hands Bueckers ROTY trophy
In a touching moment, Bueckers was handed her Rookie of the Year award backstage in the iconic “Spirit Tunnel” at the Jenifer Hudson Show.
Staff at the show sang a song for her, and as she danced through the tunnel, Bueckers was surprised with the trophy by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
“Bet I’m the last person you thought you’d see on this cool spirit tunnel,” Engelbert said in a video posted by the WNBA.
“But I’m here to present you with the 2025 Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. Congratulations!”
The video gained over three million views on X with thousands of users discussing the moment online.
However, amid all the congratulatory messages for Bueckers, there were some criticisms.
One of those critics was Michael Jordan’s former teammate, Etan Thomas, who questioned why Clark does not receive the same staging as Bueckers.
“I’m not even gonna ask anymore, we all know why “they” don’t embrace Paige Bueckers like “they” do Caitlin Clark,” Thomas, who played with Jordan with the Washington Wizards, posted on X.
‘So I’ll just say congratulations, and Paige Bueckers is the truth.”
How did Engelbert tell Clark about her ROTY win?
Thomas’ criticism does have some merit. When looking back at the way Clark received her award, it was decidedly more low-key.
Bueckers was handed her WNBA trophy backstage on the Jennifer Hudson show@WNBA Clark received her congratulatory message from Engelbert over the phone@WNBA Despite the Dallas Wings’ dismal season, Bueckers stormed to the Rookie of the Year awardGETTYWhen Clark received news of her honor, it was done via the phone and not in person.
Engelbert dialled in during Indiana Fever practice with Clark’s teammates surrounding her as she found out.
And while the video was quite touching, the difference between Clark’s announcement and Bueckers’ has provoked furious reactions online from fans.
“This shows how bad the WNBA agenda is, Caitlin Clark only gets a phone call and she actually grew the league,” one user said on X.
“She did not show up last year, but made sure she did it this year! Such disrespect toward CC,” another said.
“It’s just incredibly shameful how some players and the WNBA treat Caitlin Clark,” another wrote.
It should be noted that at the time of Clark’s Rookie of the Year award, which came after her record-breaking season and impact on the WNBA, her team, the Fever, were in the playoffs.
That means it may have been more difficult to undergo a media tour like Bueckers is on right now.
This is possible for Bueckers, as she and the Dallas Wings finished at the bottom of the WNBA standings after their dismal season.
Bueckers’ reaction to winning the Rookie of the Year award.
The forward posted a touching message on Instagram celebrating her achievement and debut season in the WNBA.
“Thank you God for an amazing rookie year,” she posted.
“Process over results. Unconditional joy and gratitude, so much to be thankful for.
“Love my squad, they all deserve Teammates of the Year in my book, nothing is possible without them. Now let’s keep on keeping on. Go wings!”
Hence then, the article about michael jordan s ex teammate shades paige bueckers rookie of the year win with caitlin clark admission was published today ( ) and is available on talksport ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Michael Jordan’s ex teammate shades Paige Bueckers’ Rookie of the Year win with Caitlin Clark admission )
Also on site :
- Free Fire MAX Redeem Codes Today December 24 Offer Cool Rewards
- Anonymous Name Makes Shocking Accusations Against Adam Pearce
- Jofra Archer injured, Ollie Pope dropped as England name playing XI for Boxing Day Ashes Test