Lisa Leslie Slams WNBA GMs for Picking Bueckers Over Clark in Franchise Survey

The WNBA's annual general managers survey asked executives which player they would pick to start a franchise before the 2025 season opener. Caitlin Clark received 50% of the vote last year. This year, with Clark entering her third season after playing only 12 games due to injuries and Bueckers fresh off a Rookie of the Year award, the results shifted.

Clark got 20% of the vote, while Bueckers led with 33%. WNBA legend Lisa Leslie weighed in. The Hall of Famer, who will soon have a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, said general managers who did not vote for Clark "are probably gonna get fired."

Leslie added, "This is a money business and the money is about Caitlin Clark." Reports indicate Clark has driven more than 25% of the league's recent economic activity over the past two seasons. She fueled record attendance, ratings, merchandise sales, franchise appreciation, a $2.2 billion media deal and expansion fee increases.

On "First Take" with Stephen A. Smith, Leslie said, "Never in the history of the WNBA, have we had a player force teams to play in larger arenas." The Indiana Fever's season opener against the Dallas Wings drew more than 16,000 fans, a sellout that featured Clark against Bueckers and the league's No. 1 pick, Azzi Fudd. The Wings' next home game against Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream failed to sell out their 7,000-seat arena.

"If you’re the GM, you’re obviously supposed to be bringing in money," Leslie said. General managers build rosters, manage contracts and player value, and pursue championships, with revenue as a key factor. Clark's economic impact exceeds Bueckers'. Leslie concluded, "I’m going with Caitlin Clark."

This season, Clark averages 22 points, 4.5 rebounds and 8 assists. Bueckers averages 20.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5 assists. Bueckers shoots threes more efficiently, takes fewer turnovers and may defend better, but Clark makes a larger overall impact.