Paige Bueckers was named the WNBA's 2025 Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, September 16 — a well-earned award that was always meant to be hers. Bueckers was awarded her trophy in person when WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert showed up at The Jennifer Hudson Show while Bueckers was mid hall walk — and fans of Caitlin Clark can't help but be a little salty about it.
Caitlin Clark receiving ROTY vs. Paige Bueckers receiving ROTY pic.twitter.com/wkpQvFy7qe
— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) September 16, 2025
When Caitlin Clark won Rookie of the Year in 2024 she was notified by way of a phone call as she was on the court during practice. The moment was a huge one for Clark, who had a tremendous rookie season.
More: Paige Bueckers learned she was named Rookie of the Year in the most unusual way
Though Clark herself seems wholly unbothered by anything relating too this year's ROY award, for some of her fans, the differences in how both women found out about the Rookie of the Year award are too stark to bear.
"This is wild 
but it was cool to see Paige win it like that," wrote one person on X. "Also, shoutout to her teammates for celebrating CC in that moment. Lastly, CC with this injury and all the time off, comments from people etc, she's got plenty of rocket fuel for next year."
But others made a valid point: Bueckers is doing promo on a show because the Dallas Wings aren't in the playoffs and she has the time. When Clark won last year, the Fever were still playoff contenders, which is why she was on the court in the first place. If the Wings had made it in, it's very likely Bueckers would have received similar treatment.