Caitlin Clark Just Got Disrespected… Again! Is She the Most Hated Player in the WNBA?
There’s never been anyone quite like Caitlin Clark. She might be called the “king of all sports,” and for good reason—no other athlete, male or female, has ever carried an entire professional league on their back the way she has for the WNBA. But imagine doing all that heavy lifting, only for your own peers to act as if you don’t even belong.
Let’s talk about what happened with the latest WNBA All-Star voting—an event that’s ignited heated discussions from social media to the sports networks. Caitlin Clark, the talk of the town and by far the most highlighted rookie in years, absolutely dominated the fan vote with over 1.29 million votes, securing herself a starting spot in the All-Star game. That’s not just impressive; it’s historic.
But here’s where things get messy: while fans and media showed Clark major love, her fellow players? They ranked her as the ninth best guard. Ninth. Let that sink in—the women who share the court with Clark every night, who see her work ethic and her impact up close, put her at number nine among guards. If you ask the players, she barely makes the cut.
Does that add up with what we’re seeing on the floor? Absolutely not. Every game, Clark is hounded by defenders, swarmed by double-teams, and faceguarded the length of the court as though she’s already a multi-year MVP. Teams bend their entire defensive schemes just to slow her down. So why pretend like she’s only the “ninth best” at her position? If she wasn’t a threat, why does she draw so much attention?
The truth is, there’s something deeper at play than statistics or performance. Clark is under the microscope every night, and while fans and media are witnessing her greatness, many players seem determined not to give her credit. Whether it’s professional jealousy, resistance to her outsized media spotlight, or lingering grudges from prior on-court clashes—one thing is clear: in the eyes of her peers, Clark is Public Enemy Number One.
And it doesn’t stop with her. The same All-Star rankings snubbed Aaliyah Boston, a quiet powerhouse having a stellar season, ranking her ninth among front court players—behind rookies and non-factors. Then there’s the odd case of Paige Bueckers, a talented player but somehow ranked above Clark, even when stats and on-court impact heavily favor Caitlin. Is this meritocracy, or just bias dressed up as rankings?
This isn’t just about basketball. It’s about respect—and the lack of it. Are the players voting for who dominates on the court, or for friends and “in crowd” favorites? Kelsey Plum, another All-Star, was dropped from sixth in the media vote to sixteenth by the players; Natasha Cloud, meanwhile, rose in the player ranks because she’s well-liked, despite mixed on-court results. The pattern is obvious—if you’re not part of the clique, you’re getting left behind.
The drama isn’t confined to the All-Star game, either. Consider Julie Vanloo, who, after helping Belgium make history, learned mid-flight to the U.S. that she was cut—not from her coach or agent, but via social media. It’s another sign of a league still struggling with how to respect the very stars it needs to survive.
The WNBA likes to market “sisterhood” and unity, yet actions and votes tell a story of pettiness, rivalry, and popularity contests. It’s a risky game. The league wants the ratings, the sponsorships, and the headlines that stars like Caitlin Clark bring—but can’t seem to move past old-school hazing and internal politics. Can you really expect your league to grow when those responsible for that growth feel unwelcome?
So, can the league survive this drama? Should the player vote for All-Star even exist if it’s just an “in crowd” popularity metric? Or is it time for real transparency and a new level of professionalism at every level?
The WNBA is at a crossroads—one between growth and self-sabotage. Does it embrace change, transparency, and respect, or will it collapse under its own weight of jealousy and infighting?
Because here’s the bottom line: fans are frustrated, players are confused, and the league’s leadership is looking shakier by the day. If things don’t change, Caitlin Clark—and others who bring in millions—might just take their talents elsewhere.
Your move, WNBA. Will you choose greatness… or let the drama win?
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