The numbers don’t lie. Caitlin Clark isn’t just a star — she’s a revolution. With 1,293,526 fan votes, Clark didn’t merely secure a spot in the WNBA All-Star Game — she obliterated every record in the book. Her vote total surpassed the combined tally of the top 30 players from 2023. The message? Loud and clear: fans have spoken, and they’ve crowned their queen.
But as Clark celebrates her captaincy, a storm brews behind the scenes. While the public cheers her rise, some of her fellow players are doing the exact opposite — quietly downplaying her success. The player vote, which accounts for 25% of the All-Star selection formula, shockingly ranked Clark ninth among guards. Ninth. The same player who brought in more support than the entire league a year prior was relegated behind less productive, lower-impact names like Natasha Cloud and Brittney Sykes.
This wasn’t a simple oversight. It was a coordinated snub.
Let’s break it down: Clark is drawing record-breaking crowds, selling out arenas, and driving TV ratings sky-high. She’s the face of women’s basketball in America — and increasingly, around the world. Yet, the very athletes who benefit from her growing influence seem more eager to ice her out than lift her up. This isn’t just a rift. It’s a full-blown fracture within the WNBA.
In 2023, Asia Wilson led fan voting with just under 96,000 votes. This year, Clark received over 13 times that amount. Her impact is seismic. The numbers didn’t come from just Indiana — they poured in from every region of the U.S. and even internationally. From small towns in Alabama to the streets of Los Angeles, fans rallied behind Clark like no player before her. This wasn’t a campaign — it was a movement.
But inside the league, it’s a different story. When WNBA players had their say, Clark landed ninth among guards. Not second, not third — ninth. The disrespect didn’t stop there. Aaliyah Boston, her Fever teammate, also ranked ninth among frontcourt players, despite strong fan support. Coincidence? Not likely. It smells more like a calculated attempt to suppress the rising power of the Indiana Fever — the team many players claim is disliked across the league.
“Fever vs. everybody” is no longer just a rallying cry. It’s a reality.
And now, as Clark steps into her role as All-Star team captain — a position earned by fan vote — the tables have turned. For the first time, she holds the power. On July 8, Clark and co-captain Naphessa Collier will draft their teams live on national television. Every pick, every snub, every smile and grimace will be broadcast for the world to see. And suddenly, those same players who voted Clark down may find themselves needing her favor.
Who will Clark pick? Teammates like Lexie Hull and Kelsey Mitchell, who’ve supported her every step of the way? Or top-tier talents who tried to keep her out of the spotlight? Her decisions won’t just shape one exhibition game — they’ll send a message to the entire league.
This power shift couldn’t come at a more pivotal time. The WNBA just announced three new expansion franchises: Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. These cities weren’t chosen randomly. They represent markets hungry for the excitement Clark brings. In fact, the Golden State Valkyries — the new team backed by Clark’s star power — sold out all 10 home games before ever stepping onto the court.
Let that sink in. A team with no history, no record, and no past — selling out because of one player’s influence.
Clark has redefined what it means to be a WNBA superstar. She’s not just a scorer or a passer — she’s a brand, a movement, a cultural shift. Her rise has made corporate sponsors take notice. TV networks are scrambling to secure rights. New investment is flowing into the sport — and every player benefits.
But not everyone is ready to give her credit.
This is the central drama of the 2025 WNBA season: the league is changing, fast, and some veterans aren’t prepared to accept that the new face of women’s basketball is a 22-year-old rookie from Iowa. And Clark? She’s no longer playing for just points on a scoreboard — she’s playing to prove that the future of women’s basketball isn’t about gatekeeping, but growth.
This All-Star game isn’t just a showcase of talent. It’s a battleground for respect, for vision, for the future. Clark now chooses her teammates — and with that, she chooses who gets to shine on the biggest stage.
The players may have tried to dim her light.
But the fans? They made her a star so bright, even the league itself is transforming around her.
