The WNBA All-Star Game is set, and Caitlin Clark will be there for the third straight year. But the voting breakdown tells a different story—one where her peers made a loud statement that has fans fuming.
A newly released graphic detailing the fan, media, and player rankings for guards reveals a stark contrast. Paige Bueckers topped the list with a No. 1 fan rank, No. 2 media rank, and No. 1 player rank. Olivia Miles came in second, earning top-five finishes across all three categories and a No. 1 media vote. Clark? She secured second place in fan voting and third in media voting, but among players, she landed at 11th—behind guards like Marina Mabrey, Sonia Citron, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, and her own Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell.
Despite the player snub, Clark’s weighted score of 4.5 still placed her third overall among guards, behind only Bueckers and Miles. Only two guards and four frontcourt players had a better weighted score. So she’s in, but the message from the locker room is clear.
Fan Outrage Boils Over
The internet, as expected, erupted. One fan on X wrote, “If this is true, that explains everything. The WNBA players don’t even have enough respect for the game to vote outside their own pettiness. I’m having a hard time believing this is real because its implications would be truly pathetic.” Another added, “11th best guard in the league being double-teamed at 94 ft. Yeah, that makes sense.”
The frustration echoes a larger conversation about how Clark is treated on and off the court. Sophie Cunningham accused the WNBA of letting teams target Clark, and this voting snub feels like another chapter. Even her fan vote dominance—second only to Bueckers—couldn't sway the players.
Why the Disconnect?
Some fans demanded a recount. “I wanna recount lol. We need to recount all the ballots I call (expletive). Somebody came in with a pile of Maryland ballots at the last second there’s no (expletive) way Paige Bueckers got more fan votes and Caitlin Clark,” one user joked. Others pointed out the absurdity: “If the players rank CC at 11, why is she the only one guarded for 94 feet every possession?”
It’s a question that may never get a straight answer. Clark’s impact on the league is undeniable—she’s a marketing juggernaut and a nightly highlight reel. But the player vote suggests a lingering tension. Jemele Hill recently defended Clark against marketing critiques, and this snub only fuels the debate over how her peers view her.
What This Means for the All-Star Game
Clark’s inclusion is a win for fans, but the voting reveals a fractured relationship between the rookie sensation and her fellow players. Chiney Ogwumike defended Alyssa Thomas after a throat-shot incident, and the tension on the court has spilled into the ballot box. Whether this affects the All-Star Game itself remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the drama is far from over.
As Clark prepares to take the floor, she’ll do so knowing that while fans and media adore her, the players have sent a clear message. And that message is: you’re not one of us—yet.
