ESPN shook up the WNBA conversation with its latest ranking of the league's top 50 players, and as expected, Caitlin Clark landed near the top. The network's panel of experts—Kareem Copeland, Michael Vopel, Kendra Andrews, and Alexa Philippou—put together a list that has fans buzzing, especially with Clark coming in at No. 3 overall.
Unsurprisingly, reigning MVP A'ja Wilson claimed the No. 1 spot. The Las Vegas Aces superstar has been dominant, and her hold on the top rank is about as solid as it gets. But the real eyebrow-raiser came at No. 2, where Wilson's teammate Kelsey Plum secured the runner-up position, ahead of some other big names.
Clark, the Indiana Fever guard and two-time All-Star, earned her No. 3 ranking with a career-defining season. Copeland, who wrote the blurb for Clark, highlighted her elite playmaking and scoring. “Any worries that Clark wouldn’t return to form after an injury-laden 2025 were quickly put to rest,” Copeland wrote. “The two-time All-Star is averaging career highs in points and shooting percentage, and her 3-point percentage is back up to 34.4%. She’s No. 3 in the league in points per game, No. 2 in assists and No. 2 in usage. Clark just ended a stretch of six straight games of 20-plus points and five-plus assists — the longest streak in WNBA history. Between the vision and scoring prowess, she might be the best playmaker in the league.”
The ranking has naturally sparked debate among fans. One user argued, “A’ja at #1 is the only thing on this list that isn’t debatable. Plum at 2 is spicy given the games played, but her numbers are nasty when healthy. Clark at 3 with the usage and playmaking is fair. The real story is how deep this league is—two rookies in the top 6 is wild. WNBA is actually fun to watch this year.” Others were less convinced, with one fan insisting, “Breanna Stewart is #2. Kelsey Plum shouldn’t be top 5. Kahleah shouldn’t be top 20 with her shooting splits this season.”
Not everyone agrees with Clark's placement either. A critic posted, “Putting Caitlin Clark at number 3, ahead of Olivia Miles and Kelsey Mitchell is crazy work. This whole list is invalid.” Meanwhile, another fan lamented, “Breanna Stewart at 5 should be a criminal offense. She’s still, IMO, just a shade behind Wilson. The ongoing disrespect of her by ESPN is absolutely wild to me.”
Clark's rise to the top of the WNBA has been a major storyline, and her play has drawn both praise and scrutiny. Some have even questioned the level of physicality she faces, with Chiney Ogwumike defending Alyssa Thomas after a controversial incident. Meanwhile, Joy Taylor called out the idea of special protection for Clark, adding to the ongoing debate.
Love it or hate it, ESPN's ranking underscores just how deep and competitive the WNBA has become. With Clark at No. 3, the message is clear: she's not just a rookie sensation anymore—she's one of the league's elite, right now.
