Tensions are already running high in the buildup to Unrivaled’s second season and Paige Bueckers hasn’t even played a game yet. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, who recently joined the Breeze roster, found herself at the center of an online debate after a fan suggested she lacked the “killer instinct” that defines fellow star Caitlin Clark.
But one of Bueckers’ Wings teammates wasn’t having it. Responding to the viral post on social media, the player believed to be standout guard Arike Ogunbowale fired back with a sharp defense of her teammate. “You clearly don’t watch Paige play,” she wrote. “She doesn’t need to yell or pound her chest to dominate. Her killer instinct shows in her poise, her control, and the way she makes everyone around her better.”
The comment quickly sparked discussion across basketball circles. Fans debated the difference between Bueckers’ calm, surgical approach and Clark’s fiery, emotionally charged style. While both players are elite scorers and proven leaders, their personalities on the court couldn’t be more different and that contrast has fueled comparisons since their college days.
Bueckers, who led the Connecticut Sun to a surprise playoff run in her rookie season, has often been praised for her unselfish play and clutch performances. “Paige isn’t loud,” one analyst noted, “but she’s lethal when the game’s on the line.”
As for the “killer instinct” debate? It might just add more fuel to the fire heading into Unrivaled’s new season where Bueckers, teamed up with young phenom Dominique Malonga, will have every chance to let her game do the talking.
One thing’s certain: she won’t need to prove her toughness on social media.
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