Yesterday I saw a post from Dave Portnoy on Twitter and was about to make a video about it. But then… I fell asleep for 14 hours. The good news is that I’m not tired anymore, and we’re going to talk about it. Specifically, about Coach Geno Auriemma’s controversial statement – and trust me, it might be one of his worst statements ever.
Geno was rumored to have passed on Caitlin Clark because of… her attitude. The rumor is that he watched one of her games and walked out in the first half. It’s hard to believe, but whether it’s true or not, he clearly didn’t pursue Clark – though he probably already had Paige Bueckers, who is an incredibly talented player, but still not as good as Caitlin.
But what really got the community going was Geno’s statement that Caitlin wasn’t physically fit to play in the WNBA. He even said Paige wasn’t physically ready. And that’s what got fans confused: is he dismissing both his protégé and his opponent?
We’re talking about Caitlin Clark, who has had at least two 30-point games this season, including a monster 30-point, 6-rebound, 6-assist, 3-steal, 3-block game against the LA Sparks. And then there was that game against Washington where she hit five straight three-pointers. And yet people are saying “she’s not fit for this league”? Cindy Brunson even suggested that players like Satou Sabally would have an easy time shutting down Caitlin, which is baffling. Calling Satou a “unicorn” doesn’t make her a unicorn.
Another funny thing: Geno said Clark wasn’t physically fit, but he admitted that Paige wasn’t either. So what’s the standard? What about Paige? She’s efficient, but she lacks the spark at key moments. When your team is losing by close margins and you can’t shine at the right times, efficiency isn’t everything.
Let’s be clear: I don’t blame Paige for the Dallas Wings’ losses, nor did I defend Caitlin when the Indiana Fever lost. But if you’re going to praise efficiency when the team is 1–11, that’s hard to accept.
As for comparing point guards in the WNBA right now: Caitlin Clark is the best in my opinion. Alyssa Thomas is the only one who could argue for that, as she’s averaging 9 assists per game—almost on par with Caitlin’s 9.2, and good enough to threaten the all-time record (which is held by Courtney Vandersloot, who had a 10-game bubble season—which shouldn’t count).
But here’s the thing: Caitlin’s impact on the court—her “gravity”—is something that can’t be measured in numbers. And while she’s not perfect, especially off-ball defense, she’s improved tremendously. She’s gone from a terrible defender to one of the better defenders in the league.
And Geno? It’s a shame that a veteran coach would criticize an opponent while also hurting his own players. Because if you look at the facts, both Paige and Caitlin are the future of the WNBA—players who aren’t just “ready” but are game-changing.
And my point guard rankings? Caitlin Clark No. 1. Alyssa Thomas No. 2. Jackie Young No. 3. Paige Bueckers No. 4. Who wants to argue that Paige is ahead of Jackie? Okay, I disagree, but I don’t think it’s crazy. But sorry Geno – clearly, this generation of young people didn’t come to the WNBA to be a background.
