Despite Caitlin Clark‘s explosive rookie season and buzz as a cultural touchstone, she found herself on the sidelines when WNBA players cast their votes for the league’s best player.
In an anonymous peer poll from The Athletic, Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier collected 17 votes—making her the most-selected player—followed by Las Vegas center A’Ja Wilson with 15 votes. Not a single vote went to Clark.
Even comment sections around the poll noticed the omission. One Reddit user summed it up:
“If Clark isn’t one of the best guards in the league why is she the central figure of the opposing defense?”
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark shone in fan voting (1.3 million votes, enough to make her an All-Star captain) and media ballots (3rd among guards), but was buried in player voting—ranked ninth among guards.
This split underscores the leagues’ divide: fandom and media appreciate Clark’s showmanship and impact, but peers may see her as unproven. That’s a tough pill for a rookie still healing from injury.
Still, Caitlin Clark isn’t fading. She remains central to All-Star narratives and continues to lead the league in assists (8.9 apg) while averaging 18.2 ppg.
This isn’t just rookie hype—it’s a challenge. Clark’s place among WNBA elites now hinges on peer recognition: winning games, earning respect from opponents, and showing that her influence extends beyond headlines and highlights.
Caitlin Clark Faces Surprising Player Vote Snub Ahead of 2025 WNBA All-Star Game
The All-Star Game’s team captains reflect clear fan love—Caitlin Clark topping the polls—but behind the scenes, a different story emerged.
“Clark finished first in fan voting and third in media voting among all backcourt players, but she was a stunning ninth in player voting.”
She may have earned her fan captain spot with a record 1.3 million votes, but the player vote didn’t follow suit. In fact, Caitlin Clark didn’t out-rank some less experienced rookies—rising stars like Paige Bueckers edged her in peer ballots.
Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale slammed the player vote as “pure jealousy,” calling it a backlash to Clark’s sudden influence.
For Caitlin Clark, the mixed reception is a real-world test. Fan devotion and media praise are part of the ride, but for lasting legacy, peer respect matters too. All-Star captaincy isn’t just personal—it’s symbolic. And while Clark dominates airwaves and ticket sales, securing admiration in the locker room might still be her toughest assignment this season.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
