Few can argue that Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is among the premier faces of the WNBA. As a 22-year-old rookie, Clark had a historic first season, earning near-unanimous Rookie of the Year honors, breaking multiple records, and even entering the conversation for league MVP. While Clark’s dominance in the WNBA is unquestionable, some have speculated about how she might fare against NBA competition, particularly after Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson’s bold claim last month about her own 1-on-1 abilities against an NBA player.
During an appearance on the Roommates Show podcast, Wilson confidently asserted she could defeat New York Knicks guard Josh Hart in a 1-on-1 game. “The score would be like 8 to 11, me,” Wilson said. “I get ball first? Yeah, you’re not going to get it back. … I’m not saying you’re going to go scoreless, but 8 to 11, I feel like, is pretty solid.”
Hart initially dismissed the claim, predicting an 11-2 victory in his favor, but later revised his stance to a closer 11-7 scoreline. However, former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague provided far less optimistic odds for Clark when discussing her hypothetical 1-on-1 matchup with Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James on the Club 520 Podcast.
“Caitlin would not score a point on Bronny, bro,” Teague said. “She might not even get a shot off, bro. … He would beat her by 60 [points]. He would legit beat her 20-0. [Bronny’s younger brother] Bryce James would beat her 20-0. He is 10 times more athletic than her. He can do everything better than her. She’s a girl, bro.”
Teague’s assessment highlights the disparity in physicality and athleticism between WNBA and NBA players. Hart, for instance, has averaged 10 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game over his 10-year NBA career. Meanwhile, Bronny James, although only a rookie, has appeared in seven NBA games, contributing four points, two assists, a rebound, a block, and a steal.
Teague further claimed that Bronny would beat Wilson 20-0 as well. While these hypothetical matchups remain speculative, Teague’s dismissal of the 2024 WNBA No. 1 overall pick’s abilities may be an oversimplification.
Ultimately, fans are unlikely to ever witness a 1-on-1 matchup between Clark and James, but the debate underscores the differing levels of competition in the NBA and WNBA.
