Caitlin Clark has been ranked 11th among guards by her WNBA peers in the latest All-Star voting, a notable drop from her ninth-place ranking last year. This comes as the Indiana Fever star secured a starting spot for the July 25th All-Star Game at Chicago's United Center, with fan votes accounting for 50% of the decision, and player and media votes each holding 25%.
Clark is currently averaging career highs of 21.2 points and 43% field goal percentage for the Fever. She will be joined by teammates Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, who were ranked higher by players, as starters. Clark's weighted score placed her third, behind top-ranked guard Paige Bueckers and Olivia Miles.
This voting outcome follows a series of controversies both on and off the court. In late June, Clark was notably absent from the WNBA's 30th-anniversary poster, a decision that sparked fan reaction. Shortly before that, Clark was the recipient of a hard foul from Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas, which drew significant criticism and resulted in Thomas receiving a flagrant 2 foul and a suspension. Some observers, including former WNBA player Stacey Dales, suggested this incident highlighted a need for the league to address player safety concerning Clark.
Clark has also faced public commentary from media figures, such as former NFL player Emmanuel Acho, who stated that the WNBA would be "better without" Clark, arguing she was a greater distraction than an asset. Acho suggested that while Clark brought attention to the league, her presence might no longer be essential now that the viewership has been established.