Caitlin Clark’s meteoric rise seemed unstoppable heading into this season. However, her shine has recently dimmed considerably, and ESPN’s midseason rankings tell the story of how far she’s fallen.
How Did Caitlin Clark Plummet from Fourth to Ninth in ESPN’s Rankings?
Indiana Fever second-year star Caitlin Clark went from a top-five preseason standing straight to the ninth spot on the list, raising eyebrows and questions. The steep drop comes after her shooting struggles and recurring injuries have disrupted what started as a promising campaign.
Despite her record-breaking campaign and various statistical achievements, disruptions in her rhythm and role on the Fever roster have led to a fall in her field-goal percentage, which the network has duly noted.
One of my FAVORITE Caitlin Clark highlights from 2025! Caitlin vs 3 people!! Should’ve been an and-1.
See you soon CC! pic.twitter.com/K62I1xQyDy
— Kiayla (@CayZeeElle) June 2, 2025
Of course, given the subjectivity of such rankings, there’s always going to be a difference in opinion, but dropping to No. 9 was a bit shocking for everyone. Analyst and writer Alexa Philippou writes, “Clark is a difficult player to assess given her lack of availability due to injury — she has appeared in 12 games, sitting out two stretches of five games.”
“Though she is currently amid a shooting slump (13-for-41 from the field and 5-for-19 from 3 since returning from her latest injury), she has shone with her playmaking. She has 19 assists over her past two games, including the 17th 10-assist game of her career Sunday — her first with no more than two turnovers,” she added.
In the preseason list, Clark proudly stood at No. 4, but ESPN was quick to attribute her dip to two primary reasons: her lack of appearances and her shooting slump.
What Injuries Have Derailed Clark’s Strong Start?
It has been pretty difficult for her to perform at an optimal level, as compared to her teammates. She’s missed 10 games so far with two different injuries. She sat out five games during the late May and early June period due to her quad injury and then missed five more games due to her growing injury.
Caitlin Clark appeared to be in pain after this play late in the fourth quarter.
Clark returned to play last week after missing 5 games with a groin injury. pic.twitter.com/y78M3mDeCf
— espnW (@espnW) July 16, 2025
Because of these absences, she’s only managed to play 12 games, averaging 16.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 9 assists. Ever since she returned from her last injury, she’s been on a slump, shooting only 13-41 from the field and 5-19 from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, Aliyah Boston rose to No. 8, all thanks to her consistency. ESPN justified Boston’s rise in the rankings due to her steady role, momentum, and being a big-moment performer, as Clark struggles to regain her footing.
Rankings aside, Clark might be injured and on a slump, but she brings immense value to the Indiana Fever and the league. Her influence goes beyond box-score stats. With the All-Star weekend approaching, Clark has the right opportunity to turn heads and propel herself back into top-tier standings.
