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Caitlin Clark received a bit of perceived disrespect from her WNBA colleagues ahead of the 2025 All-Star Game. She was voted as the ninth-best guard in the league by fellow players.
That ranking kept her from being considered the top WNBA player at her position as determined by a combination of player, fan, and media voting. What gives?
Clark has been a polarizing player since joining the league. While she’s brought incredible attention to the often-floundering WNBA, she typically has a large target on her back when it comes to competition.
Crowds show out to support her. Defenders play her as tough as possible. There’s been a stark contrast in the treatment of the reigning Rookie of the Year when compared to this year’s favorite, Paige Bueckers.
The difference has been seen by notable basketball personalities. Charles Barkley cited “petty jealousy” when discussing the topic last year.
So, when she was voted as the ninth-best WNBA guard a few weeks ahead of the 2025 All-Star Game, it sparked a negative reaction. But was it warranted?
Players vote Caitlin Clark as 9th-best WNBA guard.
Clark received an All-Star Game invite as a rookie, though she was snubbed by the US Olympic Team. She responded by leading the All-Star Team to a head-to-head win over Team USA prior to the Paris Games.
She’s now gearing up for her second All-Star Game, where she’ll be a captain. That nomination came largely as a result of a massive fan vote turnout.
Media and players also had a vote. Media ranked her third amongst WNBA guards. Players ranked her ninth.
What was the reasoning behind that ranking? Was the league-wide narrative of hate being proven true, or was there another motivation? It might be the latter!
Clark has been impressive when on the floor, averaging 18.2 points per game to go along with 8.9 assists. That “on the floor” is pertinent here.
The guard’s missed seven of the team’s 16 games. She’s hoping to return for Game No. 17, but that’s still to be determined. She’s also seen a dip in shooting percentage and scoring totals from her rookie campaign, and to this point, has been outplayed by teammate guard Kelsey Mitchell (at least according to Fever opponents).
Caitlin Clark has been a notable contributor when available. Unfortunately, that’s only been for about 50% of the time. Is that a valid reason for the low vote? “Best” is a subjective term!
Opposing defenses certainly don’t scheme her like the WNBA’s ninth-best guard. Then again, based on production alone, there is a legit case to be made.