The spotlight wasn’t on Paige Bueckers. It was somewhere else entirely.

That staggering decline wasn’t lost on UConn’s legendary coach Geno Auriemma. For years, Auriemma has wielded influence with a subtle confidence, positioning his players—and his program—at the center of the women’s basketball conversation. But the ratings didn’t lie. When Paige had her big moment, America yawned.

Geno, famously dismissive of the Caitlin Clark frenzy, now finds himself in an awkward position. Because when it comes to generating buzz, Clark isn’t just winning. She’s dominating.

Paige is talented. That’s never been in question. But viewers aren’t tuning in for talent alone. They want a spectacle. They want energy. They want Caitlin.

Let’s break down the numbers. Last year, Caitlin Clark’s draft coverage peaked at over 3 million viewers. Paige’s? Barely half. And it wasn’t just the ratings. The tone, the energy, the media coverage—it all felt muted. As if even the networks understood this wasn’t the main event.

Auriemma, once the architect of women’s basketball stardom, seemed blindsided. For years, he subtly undermined Clark’s rise—questioning her fans, her game, and even her influence. But now, with the cameras rolling and the numbers in, it’s clear: Clark isn’t just another star. She’s the axis the sport is spinning around.

Even the WNBA’s own data confirms it. Clark’s presence drives 27% of the league’s total revenue. Her games account for the highest-rated matchups. She sells more jerseys, fills more arenas, and brings in more ad dollars than anyone else.

And that’s a problem—for Geno and his narrative.

In interviews, Auriemma’s praise for Bueckers was unmistakable. But his comments about Clark? Laced with doubt. He called her fans “delusional,” said they were disrespecting the WNBA, and suggested she was being set up to fail.

Now? He’s watching as the player he dismissed sets records he never imagined.

The WNBA draft was supposed to mark the next big chapter in women’s basketball. Instead, it became a case study in what happens when hype doesn’t meet reality. Fans didn’t show up in record numbers. They didn’t flood social media. They didn’t treat Paige like the next great thing. Because she isn’t—not yet.

Meanwhile, Clark continues to transform the league. Her preseason game in Iowa? Sold out in minutes. Her national TV schedule? A record-breaking 41 games. And yes, that’s more than any NBA team.

Clark is no longer a breakout star. She’s the standard. Everyone else is playing catch-up.

And that’s what’s making the media pivot so awkward.

Desperate to create a counterbalance, networks have poured attention into Paige. But fans aren’t buying it. The ratings aren’t just a referendum on Paige—they’re a referendum on manufactured hype.

Some commentators have even resorted to bizarre narratives, claiming Clark’s success is a product of race. That her fame is more about being white and from the Midwest than about shattering scoring records and leading underdog teams to national title games.

But that argument doesn’t hold. Because Clark didn’t just arrive on the scene. She built it. She didn’t get the attention handed to her—she earned it, with deep threes, no-look passes, and an electric presence that turned every game into must-watch TV.

Let’s talk stats. In her final college season, Clark averaged 31.6 points, 8.9 assists, and 7.4 rebounds. That’s not just good. That’s generational. Meanwhile, Bueckers posted 21.9 points and 3.8 assists. Solid? Yes. Game-changing? No.

The difference is clear. One player rewrote the history books. The other followed the script.

But perhaps the biggest takeaway is this: the public has made its choice.

Paige may have her moment. But it won’t come at Caitlin’s expense.

And Geno? He may want to rethink how he handles the new face of the league. Because the Caitlin Clark era isn’t coming. It’s already here.

And whether you like it or not, there’s no turning back.