Caitlin Clark Reveals What She Admires Most About UConn's Paige Bueckers

What has already been a singularly compelling NCAA women's tournament promises to get even more interesting Friday night.

On a star-studded evening in Cleveland, South Carolina will meet NC State and Iowa will face UConn in the Final Four. The second game specifically will feature two of the most compelling talents in college basketball: Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark and Huskies guard Paige Bueckers.

It's a showdown between the sport's most exciting player in Clark and perhaps its most complete in Bueckers, and a regional rivalry between an Iowan and a Minnesotan. However, Clark was frank Thursday morning about her admiration for her opponent.

"The coolest thing about Paige is how resilient she is. Since I've known her since she was in middle school, she's always had that fire, she's always been a great leader," Clark told reporters. "I couldn't be happier for her and the year that she's had."

On the heels of an ACL injury that cost her the 2023 season, Bueckers is averaging a career-best 22 points per game and garnered AP All-America honors for the second time.

This year, the Hopkins, Minn. native will have a chance to lead UConn to its 12th national championship.