Lakers legend can’t contain excitement for Caitlin Clark-Paige Bueckers showdown

The upcoming NCAA women’s tournament is anticipated to feature an epic showdown between Caitlin Clark from Iowa and Paige Bueckers from UConn. These two exceptional collegiate players will lead their teams in hopes of earning a spot in the national championship game held in Cleveland, Ohio. Clark’s Hawkeyes defeated their rivals LSU, while Bueckers’ Huskies eliminated top-seeded USC in the Elite Eight.

Despite the highly anticipated Clark versus Angel Reese matchup in women’s collegiate hoops, the upcoming Clark-Bueckers battle is not far behind.

Clark and Bueckers are both highly anticipated contenders for the national Player of the Year award, further elevating the intensity of the already crucial match-up.

Among the many anticipating the duel, Magic Johnson is excited to see it as well. The NBA Hall of Famer and LA Lakers legend shared on Twitter:

“I have my popcorn ready for the women’s Final Four this Friday! The two best women’s basketball players in college, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and UConn’s Paige Bueckers are set to go head-to-head this Friday and continue the star matchups we’ve seen throughout the tournament!”

Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers share similar experiences in their college careers. Both were members of the 2020 class and ended up being integral players for their individual universities.

Last year, Clark was awarded the National Player of the Year title, while Buckers received hers in her freshman year. Both players also happen to play the same position, adding to the excitement for Friday’s upcoming showdown.

Despite Clark having another impressive season, Bueckers has quietly had a terrific campaign. If the Huskies win, it will only further highlight her greatness for UConn and gain her more fans.

Top Contenders for the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship: Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers

In the year 2022, the UConn Huskies, led by Paige Bueckers, advanced to the NCAA women’s championship game, only to be defeated by the number one ranked team, South Carolina.

Despite her disappointment, the following year she found herself on the sidelines once again as her school failed to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2008. Due to a torn left ACL, she was unable to play and instead became a cheerleader for her team. Unfortunately, the Huskies were only able to make it to the Sweet 16 before ultimately losing to Ohio State.

Despite facing numerous challenges, she has shown remarkable improvement this year and led her school to a victory against the highly-ranked USC in the Elite Eight. Despite having only eight healthy players on their team, UConn managed to defeat JuJu Watkins’ squad.

Despite reaching the doorstep of the championship round, Caitlin Clark was ultimately eliminated by Angel Reese and the eventual champions LSU Tigers in 2023. However, this loss served as motivation for Clark, leading her to have a historic season that is being hailed as one of the greatest in NCAA Tournament history.

Sadly, only one of Clark or Paige Bueckers will advance after their Friday matchup. The standout player from Iowa has already expressed interest in entering the 2024 WNBA Draft, and Bueckers may do the same.

One of the players could potentially have a final chance to win the women’s collegiate basketball championship before transitioning into the professional level.