Caitlin Clark calls resurfaced 2017 photo with Paige Bueckers a ‘pinch me’
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has described her reaction to a recently resurfaced photo from nine years ago as a “pinch me moment.” The 2017 picture shows a young Clark alongside current WNBA stars Paige Bueckers and Aliyah Boston, all dressed in USA Basketball gear at a national team training camp.
The image captures a trio of budding talents who would go on to dominate college basketball before becoming top picks in the WNBA draft. Clark’s comments, reported by ESPN’s Alexa Philippou, highlight the improbable journey from youth teammates to professional rivals and stars of a league experiencing unprecedented growth.
The Caitlin Clark Paige Bueckers photo shows their journey
The 2017 photograph serves as a remarkable time capsule, showing three players who have since become foundational pieces of the WNBA’s new generation. At the time, they were promising teenagers dreaming of a professional career. Today, they are all household names who were selected as the number one overall pick in three consecutive WNBA Drafts.
Aliyah Boston, Clark’s teammate on the Indiana Fever, was the first of the group, selected as the top pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft and earning a unanimous Rookie of the Year award. Clark followed as the No.
1 pick in 2024, and Paige Bueckers, now with the Dallas Wings, completed the trifecta as the first selection in the 2025 draft, where she also won Rookie of the Year.
Reflecting on their shared past, Clark acknowledged the surprise and pride in their collective success. “I don’t think any of us probably would have guessed we would have all made it [to this level], and that the WNBA is what it is now with the amount of attention that’s on us,” Clark said.
“But at the same time, I think we would all say it’s pretty cool.”
Their individual and collective rise has been a major driver of the league’s surging popularity. The media landscape athletes navigate is increasingly complex, with brand building extending into new arenas. For instance, major entertainment companies like Rockstar navigate censorship on global platforms, showing how brands must adapt to different markets, a challenge sports leagues also face as they expand.
A ‘full circle moment’ for team USA
The journey for these players has continued on the international stage, where they have reunited as members of the 2026 USA Women’s National Team for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. The transition from youth camps to the senior national team represents a significant milestone for all three athletes.
Fever forward/center Aliyah Boston perfectly captured this sentiment. “There’s always pride when you wear USA,” Boston commented. “I think it’s kind of a full circle moment for us to be in the big girl jerseys now.” This sentiment underscores the prestige associated with representing their country at the highest level of competition.
The dynamic between Clark and Bueckers, often portrayed as a rivalry by the media, is more nuanced. The two have been friends and competitors for years, having played together on junior Olympic teams that Bueckers once described as “one of the best U-16 or U-17 teams to ever exist.”
Their history adds a compelling layer to their current professional careers, both as opponents in the WNBA and teammates for Team USA.
Bueckers herself has addressed the narrative, seeking to clarify their relationship. “Everybody has pinned me and Caitlin against each other for the longest time, and we are cool. We are friends,” she stated previously. Their reunion on the national team offers a chance for them to showcase their chemistry on a global stage, turning a perceived rivalry into a powerful partnership.
Driving a new, prosperous era for the WNBA
It’s impossible to separate the careers of Clark, Bueckers, and Boston from the WNBA’s current boom period. The league is enjoying its most prosperous era in history, routinely selling out arenas and breaking viewership records. This success is directly fueled by the engaging storylines and immense talent of its new generation of stars.
The on-court product has been electric. Clark and her Indiana Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell have both entered the WNBA MVP conversation this season, highlighted by a recent blowout win over the Connecticut Sun where both players scored 34 points.
The financial health of sports leagues is a frequent topic, especially as new sources of funding emerge in various public spheres, including the way crypto political spending is influencing elections.
Staggering individual performances
The statistical achievements of these players speak for themselves. In 2026, Aliyah Boston is averaging a solid 16.9 points and 8.3 rebounds while demonstrating her expanded range by shooting 40.8% from three-point territory. Her development has been a crucial factor in the Fever’s success.
Paige Bueckers made her own headlines in August 2025 with a stunning 44-point game, showcasing the scoring prowess that made her a number one pick. Meanwhile, Clark has excelled on the international stage, earning MVP honors at a World Cup qualifying tournament where she averaged 11.6 points and a tournament-best 6.4 assists for the undefeated Team USA.
The road ahead for the fever and their rivals
As the WNBA season heads toward its climax, the Indiana Fever are focused on making a deep playoff run. The team has been described as “rolling right along,” and the chemistry between Clark and her teammates appears to be peaking at the perfect time. Their immediate focus is on finishing the regular season strong.
The Fever’s next challenge will be an away game against the Toronto Tempo on September 18, a matchup that will be crucial for playoff seeding. For fans, every game is an opportunity to watch these generational talents compete at the highest level.
The growth of women’s basketball into a global commercial force continues, mirroring how other emerging sectors are being integrated into the mainstream economy, a process that requires establishing clear standards, much like how the G20 commits to rules for digital assets.
The resurfaced 2017 photo is more than just a nostalgic throwback; it’s a testament to a dream realized, not just for three individuals, but for an entire sport.
What started as a shared goal at a youth training camp has blossomed into a professional reality that is captivating a nation and pushing the WNBA to new heights. The journey from those junior jerseys to the “big girl jerseys” is complete, but their story is far from over.