Let’s be real for a second. We love a good "passing of the torch" story. It’s clean. It’s cinematic. When Caitlin Clark pulled up from the logo against Michigan on February 15, 2024, to break the NCAA all-time scoring record, the narrative was already written. Kelsey Plum, the woman who held that record for seven years, was supposedly the old guard being pushed aside by the new phenomenon.
But if you actually follow the WNBA, you know it’s way messier—and more interesting—than that.
The relationship between Kelsey Plum Caitlin Clark isn't just about a record in a history book. It’s about two different eras of women’s basketball colliding in real-time. It’s about "tattletale" jokes at All-Star games, quad injuries, and the cold reality of shifting from being the hunter to the hunted.
The Record That Changed Everything
Kelsey Plum’s 3,527 points at the University of Washington felt untouchable. Honestly, it did. She was a scoring machine who didn't just play basketball; she outworked everyone in the gym until her jersey was soaked. Then came Clark.
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When Clark broke that record, she didn't just tip-toe past it. She blew the doors off the arena with a 49-point masterpiece.
The interesting part? Plum was actually one of the first people to celebrate it, but she also offered a bit of a warning. She’s been vocal about how heavy that crown is. Holding the scoring record brings a level of scrutiny that can be exhausting. Plum lived it during those lean years when the WNBA wasn't getting the "Caitlin Clark effect" levels of investment.
That Viral 2025 All-Star "Drama"
Fast forward to the summer of 2025. This is where things got kinda spicy. During the WNBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, the players were organizing a "Pay Us What You Owe Us" protest. They all wore black shirts to send a message to the league about the upcoming collective bargaining agreement.
Plum, who is the Vice President of the WNBPA, went on the record after the game and basically called out "Team Clark."
"I don't want to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that meeting," Plum told reporters.
Ouch.
The internet, as it does, went into a total meltdown. Fans thought Plum was taking a shot at the rookie’s leadership. Plum later had to clarify that she was making a joke—specifically about Team Clark being "hungover" since their unofficial team name for the weekend was "Team Hungover."
Clark, for her part, was sidelined with a groin injury at the time and didn't even play in the game. The "rivalry" grew a new set of legs that night, even if Plum swears it was all in good fun.
Comparing the Games: It’s Not Just Scoring
Most casual fans think they’re the same player because they both shoot from the parking lot. They aren't. Not even close.
- Size matters: Plum is 5'8". Clark is 6'0". That extra four inches gives Clark a vision over the defense that Plum has to work twice as hard to find.
- Passing vs. Scoring: Plum is a pure, elite-level bucket getter. In college, she was the system. Clark, however, is arguably the best passer the women's game has seen in decades. She averaged 9.3 assists in early 2025 before her quad strain.
- The Pro Transition: People forget Plum struggled her first few years in the league. She was called a bust. It took moving to the Las Vegas Aces and finding a specific role for her to blossom into an All-Star and a champion. Clark, despite the turnovers and the physical target on her back, has been a statistical anomaly since day one.
The Physicality and the Olympic "Snub"
The biggest point of contention between these two fanbases usually boils down to Team USA. In 2024, Clark was left off the Paris Olympic roster. Plum was on it.
Fans were furious. They wanted the star power. The selection committee wanted the veteran grit.
By the time the December 2025 training camp rolled around in Durham, North Carolina, we finally saw them go head-to-head in a Team USA environment. Reports from that camp were wild. Plum was reportedly "knocking Clark off the ball," playing that physical, FIBA-style defense that rookies usually hate. Clark was seen barking at the refs—typical Caitlin—while Plum just kept the pressure on.
It wasn't malice. It was "welcome to the big leagues" energy.
Why the Ratings Matter
We have to talk about the money. When Clark went down with that left quad strain in May 2025, the WNBA saw a 55% drop in national TV viewership. That is a staggering number.
Plum has been around long enough to see the league when nobody was watching. She’s praised Clark for "bringing the show," acknowledging that the "Caitlin Clark effect" puts money in everyone’s pockets. But there is also a clear sense that the veterans, like Plum, want people to respect the foundation they built when the cameras weren't there.
What’s Next for the Two Stars?
If you're looking for a "feud," you're probably going to be disappointed. These two are more like competitors who share a very specific, very small piece of history.
Kelsey Plum is focused on keeping the Los Angeles Sparks relevant and fighting for a fair CBA in 2026. Caitlin Clark is focused on getting her body back to 100% and proving that her Rookie of the Year campaign wasn't a fluke.
Here is how you should actually track this going forward:
- Watch the 2026 CBA negotiations: Plum is a lead voice here. How she handles the "Clark era" players during these talks will define the next decade of the league.
- Keep an eye on the head-to-head stats: Clark’s Fever took two out of three from Plum’s Sparks in 2024. See if Plum adjusts her defensive scheme to shut down Clark’s passing lanes in their next meeting.
- Check the injury reports: Both players have dealt with lower-body issues recently. Their longevity is the only thing that will keep this "rivalry" alive.
Forget the "tattletale" headlines. The real story is whether Clark’s passing or Plum’s relentless scoring will win out when the game is on the line in the fourth quarter.
To stay ahead of the curve, stop watching the highlight reels and start watching the off-ball movement. That's where Plum tries to lose Clark, and it's where Clark tries to manipulate the defense. That’s the real chess match.
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Next Steps for You: Check the upcoming WNBA schedule for the next Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks matchup. Pay close attention to who Plum guards on the perimeter—it’s usually a masterclass in psychological warfare.