Caitlin Clark is entering her third WNBA season with something to prove—and the chip on her shoulder just got a little bigger.

Despite leading the Indiana Fever to the semifinals last year and earning a top-10 spot on ESPN's list of the league's best players, the star point guard has seen her stock dip in the eyes of some around the league. Ranked 10th overall, Clark's placement is still impressive, especially considering she played just 13 games last season due to injuries. But a new poll of WNBA general managers, conducted by The Athletic, shows a shift in perception: the majority of executives said they'd choose Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers to build a franchise around from scratch.

That's a notable pivot from the monumental hype Clark carried into the league in 2024 after her historic NCAA career at Iowa. Bueckers, however, has been a household name in her own right—she was the top-rated recruit in Clark's class of 2020 and won a national championship at UConn, a feat Clark never achieved despite setting the NCAA's all-time scoring record. Now, with both stars healthy and leading their teams, the rivalry is set to reach new heights.

For the Fever, this perceived slight could fuel a fire. After an injury-plagued season that ended in the semifinals against the eventual champion Las Vegas Aces, Indiana is no longer seen as the league's "most fun team to watch." But with three All-Stars back in the lineup, they're hungry to reclaim that title—and make a run at the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2015. The first statement opportunity comes Saturday, when Clark and the Fever host Bueckers and the Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to open the 2026 season.

Expect fireworks. This isn't just a season opener—it's a declaration game.