Caitlin Clark Says Paige Bueckers' 'Poise' Will Help UConn Star Transition to WNBA

Paige Bueckers ended her collegiate career with a win in the national championship on Sunday and now the UConn star is preparing for her first season in the WNBA.

While she'll be playing at a much higher level with more talent, Bueckers has what it takes to succeed in the professional ranks, according to Caitlin Clark.

"I think her poise, that's something you need coming into the W," Clark said on the Bird and Turasi telecast of UConn vs. South Carolina (2:50 mark). "It all hits you so fast, you're moving to a new city, you're trying to understand new teammates, you have a new coach while you're trying to live up to all these expectations, and I think that's one of the greatest things about her game is just her poise and her maturity and nothing ever seems to phase her. She's always the same constant leader."

Bueckers, a Player of the Year award winner and three-time All-American, has shown that she has what it takes to succeed on the court over the last few years. She averaged 19.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists over her four years at UConn, including 20 points, 4.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 53.9 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from deep this season.

While Clark commended Bueckers' poise, she also recognized her WNBA-ready talent.

"She can score on all three levels," she said. "She finished well around the rim, her midrange game is some of the best I've honestly ever seen and she can score from the three-point line too. And then she can play point guard, but she can also play off the ball."

Just like last year when the Indiana Fever selected Clark first overall, there's a clear choice for the first pick this year, and it's Bueckers. The Dallas Wings hold the first selection and will almost certainly use it to select the Huskies star. The draft is just over a week away on April 14.

After the draft, Bueckers will have a month to get acclimated before the season starts in mid-May. If Clark's evaluation of Bueckers is right, she should have no trouble finding success early on in her career.