Caitlin Clark can draw packed arenas and shatter viewership records just by lacing up her sneakers. Yet, the 24-year-old point guard still can’t seem to earn the votes of her peers.
The basketball community went into a frenzy after the voting ballots for the 2026 WNBA All-Star selection went public, revealing that the Indiana Fever’s cornerstone was ranked 11th among guards by her fellow players.
David Dennis Jr. Sets the Record Straight on Caitlin Clark and the All-Star Voting
The sheer disparity highlighted the undeniable tension between the former ROTY and the rest of the league, prompting fans to call the low ranking a reflection of jealousy and insecurity from other players.
But before the internet could fully embrace this narrative, a prominent analyst stepped in to shoot down the outrage and provide a reality check on how the WNBA player ballot actually works.
On ESPN’s First Take, Senior Writer David Dennis Jr. highlighted that many people didn’t receive ballots, many didn’t vote, and those who did were only asked to vote for the top four guards in the league.
“I don’t think that you can make a compelling argument that Caitlin Clark is a top four guard in the WNBA,” stated Dennis Jr.
“Like, nobody can at this point. That is why she was 11th. She got the 11th-most votes to be in the top four. So there’s really no controversy about that…when you add in the fact that she is one of the most popular players in the WNBA. She’s going to make the All-Star team. That is not the argument here.”
Dennis Jr. argued that the narrative surrounding Caitlin Clark is being framed to suggest that her fellow players are “petty” and “jealous” of her success, which is not true.
“Caitlin Clark is experiencing pretty much what happens anytime a young player comes into the league with a lot of hype…that says…the entire league, basically, should be thankful that she’s there. She’s going to be the best player that you’ve ever seen.”
Dennis Jr. emphasized that whenever such circumstances arise in which a rookie is pushed to a pedestal above her predecessors, regardless of league or gender, the player is often met with backlash from fans and colleagues. Each era is dominated by its own group of talents, but that doesn’t mean the previous era was any less significant.
By citing Michael Jordan’s freeze-out during the 1985 NBA All-Star Game, where the third overall pick didn’t receive any passes from his teammates, or how the 18-year-old LeBron James had to earn every single bucket because his frame invited more physical play.
The ESPN analyst highlighted that every basketball legend faced significant resistance due to the immense attention and fame they attracted.
Despite everything, Clark has been named an All-Star starter for the third consecutive year after receiving high votes alongside Paige Bueckers, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Aliyah Boston. The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game is scheduled to take place on July 25, 2026, at Chicago’s United Center.
