Connecticut Huskies Basketball star Paige Bueckers has difficulty finding the national acceptance because she does not have African-American rival such as Caitlin Clark in Angel Reese, according to the former NBA player Etan Thomas.
Writing for The Guardian, the 46-year-old former first round concept-pick, controversy online by the rivalry of the University between Clark, Iowa's White Sensation, and Reese, a black former star at LSU, was central to the popularity of the NCAA basketball tournaments of 2023 and 2024.
'Women's College Basketball Ratings rose in the last two NCAA tournaments, part of it had to do with the excellence of the players to be seen. But part of it was for fewer constructive reasons, “wrote Thomas, who also worked as a poet, freelance writer and activist. “Many of the media made Reese to the villain of Clark's heroin after the black princess performed the Great White Hope in the NCAA Tournament Championship game 2023.”
The game, which remains one of the highest rated in the history of women's basketball, is best remembered for Reese who directs a few playful allegations in the direction of Clark. In particular, Reese wrestler John Cena's 'You Can't See Me' hand -weaving gesture, which Clark did earlier in the tournament with another player.
“The viral image of Reese waves her hand in front of her face – the same Taunt Clark had used in a previous game – Clark and Reese transformed from great players to lightning staves for racial animus,” Thomas wrote.
'People who were not interested in women's basketball suddenly became fanatics – in all sense of the word – for the worst reasons. They were there to encourage Clark's whiteness and to attack the blackness of Reese, not their talent. '
UConn Guard Paige Bueckers (5) runs through the student area in Gampel Pavilion after a match against South Dakota State in the second round of the current NCAA tournament
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky Look up during the game on 1 June 2024 in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
Clark and Reese remained rivals for the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, respectively, during their hugely popular Rookie seasons in the WNBA.
“In the meantime there has been no black villain for Bueckers to compete against,” Thomas wrote. “The fact that it has meant that she received less attention and worship from Central America, says a lot about the state of the country.”
To be honest, UConn to the seventh-arranged USC and their African-American superstar, Juju Watkins, lost in a 72-70 thriller on December 21. But while the two schools are preparing for an Elite 8 Rematch on Monday evening, the game is played without Watkins, which was lost for a seasonal knee injury in the tournament.
But Thomas believes that White America's antipathy opposite Bueckers comes from her beliefs, background and personal life, all of which include strong connections with black friends and loved ones.
“Perhaps it is because, unlike Clark, Bueckers has always been pronounced about issues outside the field,” Thomas wrote. 'On the 2021 Espys, Bueckers was named the Athlete of the Year college. She used her acceptance speech to celebrate and honor black women in particular.
'Meanwhile, during Ramadan Bueckers, breakfast is cooking for her Muslim teammate Jana el-Alalfy, sings gospel numbers (the black versions) before games, has a level of connection with her black teammates who really look like a sisterhood, has put on her black friends, not in her Black friends, not in her Black friends Black friends, not in her black friends, not in her black teams, there is a saying of her Espies.
Thomas also reprimanded fans WNBA fans who embraced Clark because they were a white superstar in a largely black competition.
“When she was set up in the WNBA last year, Clark repeatedly asked fans not to arm her, but it didn't give her a dubious hero for Bigots, who often picked racist abuse with her black opponents,” Thomas continued. 'Clark had become a huge star, because of her pure talent-she was a WNBA All-Star and Rookie of the year in 2024 but also because of her supposed rivalry with Reese, a rivalry that both players have played (and it must be said, benefited financially).
“That does not mean that all fans of Clark fall into this category, nor is this the fault of Clark, who just wants to play basketball.”
Reese recreated wrestler John Cena's 'You Can't See Me' Hand gesture for Clark in 2023
Etan Thomas has become a poet, writer and activist since he left the NBA years earlier
Of course not everyone agreed with Thomas' opinions about why Clark was more popular at university level than Bueckers, who is generally expected to be the first choice of the WNBA design of 2025.
“Or hear me,” wrote a critic on X. “Paige is just as good as Caitlin Clark is. And that is what it comes down to. '
“Paige is great,” wrote an X user. 'CC is extraordinary. It's really that simple. '
Another blamed the reduced popularity of Bueckers the torn ACL that she suffered in 2022-23, which cost her basketball for a year.
“This article is Flagrant Race-Baiting,” wrote the critic. 'Let's really be: Paige Bueckers did not' miss' at the spotlights of Caitlin Clark level because she supported racial equality. She missed it because she was injured for two years. Tore ACL, missed all 2022-23. Years before? Missed 19 games with another knee injury. “
For what it is worth, Clark Blanke ranked by recognizing the existence of white privilege and at the same time accepting the price for Time Athlete of the Year.
“I want to say that I have earned everything, but as a white person there is a privilege,” Clark said.
Her comments criticized in some quarters, in particular from commentator and podcaster Megyn Kelly who complained Clark's 'self -lagging'.
“She's on her knee, but apologizes for the fact that they are white and get attention,” Kelly wrote on social media.
