ESPN has once again found itself at the center of controversy, this time drawing the ire of WNBA fans over what many are calling a "disrespectful" ranking of Caitlin Clark. The league's most recognizable star, Clark took the basketball world by storm during her historic rookie campaign in 2024, shattering records and earning both an All-Star selection and the Rookie of the Year award. But her sophomore season hit some unexpected turbulence, with a dip in stats and a significant injury that limited her to just 13 games in 2025. Now, as she prepares to bounce back, it seems the media hype train has slowed down a bit.
Ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, ESPN released its highly anticipated power rankings of the top 50 players in the league. While Clark remains the face of the WNBA, the network placed her at No. 10 on the list—a decision that has sparked immediate backlash. ESPN acknowledged her incredible impact, noting that "Clark received the fourth-most MVP votes as a rookie while setting a single-season league record for assists" and that she "became one of the league's best passers and long-range shooters the moment she stepped onto a WNBA court." They also highlighted that despite her injury-shortened 2025 season, she was still named an All-Star.
Yet, the players ranked ahead of her read like a who's who of WNBA royalty: Kelsey Plum (No. 9), reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers (No. 8), Allisha Gray (No. 7), Sabrina Ionescu (No. 6), Jackie Young (No. 5), Breanna Stewart (No. 4), Napheesa Collier (No. 3), Alyssa Thomas (No. 2), and reigning MVP A'ja Wilson at No. 1. While each of these stars has an undeniable pedigree, fans were quick to point out a glaring inconsistency: how can Bueckers, after just one season, be ranked ahead of Clark, who had a statistically superior rookie year?
The reaction on social media was swift and unforgiving. "I love Paige, but how is she ahead of CC after one year? Caitlin's rookie season was legendary," one fan posted, echoing the sentiment of many. Another added, "This is just disrespectful at this point. Clark changed the game in year one."
Whether you agree with ESPN's rankings or not, one thing is clear: Caitlin Clark's journey back to the top is just beginning, and the basketball world will be watching closely. For fans looking to rep their favorite player, now is the perfect time to gear up with the latest Caitlin Clark-inspired apparel and show the league just who the real No. 1 is.