“Y’all mad because that cornfed Iowa girl busting y’all a–.” Shannon Sharp exclaimed last year after the Seattle Storm’s Skylar Diggins-Smith bumped into Clark during a timeout. And that wasn’t just an isolated incident. Chennedy Carter pulled a flagrant on Clark when the ball was not even in play. Besides facing these difficulties on the court, she was drawing crowds to her captivating game. Her popularity skyrocketed the league’s viewership, improved its finances by millions, had sold out her merchandise. Clark is projected to bring in more than a billion dollars to the sports economy this year. And it is not just momentary fandom, as we saw this season, even after she missed the majority of her sophomore season with injuries, her fandom is holding strong, as she was the most voted player for the WNBA All-Star, getting a record 1,293,526 fan votes. While the fans might be on their side, not all the players seem to be as they voted her as the ninth-best guard in the league.
And now, Christine Brennan, the author of the book “On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports,” which chronicles the rise of Clark, has added further fuel to the Caitlin Clark-Jealousy narrative.
She read a poll from the Athletic where the players voted who could be the face of the league in the next five years, and it had Clark at the top with 53.8%. However, that is 46.2% of players still not convinced on her popularity. And that’s what Brennan had an issue with as she wrote along with a screenshot of the poll, “In @TheAthletic poll, 53.8% of WNBA players who replied said Caitlin Clark will be face of WNBA in five years. Hmmm. Only 53.8? Record TV ratings, attendance, moving to bigger arenas just for her, massive cultural fame. Is that going to stop? No. How do they not see this?”
To add context to the poll, it involved 39 players, which is just 27% of the total players in the league. The poll includes players from all 13 teams but excludes the 30 rookies in an effort to gather veterans’ perspectives, which this 34% of all the veterans. So, around 18 players in the poll think Clark won’t be the face of the league. At least currently, there is no argument against Clark being the face of the league.
The Dallas Wings moved to the American Airlines Centre just for Fever games because they knew what demand Clark brings, pair that up with Paige Bueckers, and you have 20,000 people turning up for a WNBA game. There are almost no records she doesn’t hold, according to any popularity metric. You ask someone from across the globe in the Philippines, and they will know her because Nike had a billboard with Caitlin Clark.
Why did they have it in the Philippines? Because the avid basketball following population knows her as being synonymous with the WNBA. Considering the situation today, it’s hard to imagine any other player being as popular as Clark in the future. But we thought the same about Sue Bird before Clark came on the scene.
Bird herself thought Clark was the trigger to this rise of women’s basketball. “It was starting, the fire was there,” Bird said of the WNBA’s steps toward a breakthrough in 2023. “But Caitlin came and she poured gasoline all over that thing and just took it to another level.” Juju Watkins, who might not be a pro for another two years, is the second-best, while Paige Bueckers falls to third.
We’ve seen plenty of signs suggesting some players may feel a twinge of jealousy toward Caitlin Clark, echoed by former players and analysts alike. But even if that sentiment exists, it’s likely confined to a small slice of the league. And truthfully, it doesn’t matter. Clark continues to shine with unwavering poise, dazzling on the court and commanding attention off it. Her game speaks louder than any criticism, and her legacy is already outgrowing the noise.
Caitlin Clark Clears Doubts, To Participate In The Three-Point Contest
It has been a tough sophomore season on Clark as her body finally gave in to all the blows and overplaying she has been doing in the last couple of years, as she has sustained two major injuries this season. A groin injury and a left quad strain, which made the fans question whether the 2 time All-Star will miss the 3-point contest again after declining last year. And the fans finally have respite as Clark was officially declared a participant for the 3-point competition this weekend.
This competition might just come at the wrong time for Clark, as she is going through a dry patch from beyond the arc. In the last 6 games, she is shooting 15.4% from the three-point line while having a total of 42 attempts. We saw a glimmer of her old form coming back in the latest game against the Dallas Wings, where she made an early logo three. However, she ultimately finished with 2 out of 7. However, we must not forget she is the most prolific three-point shooter from last season, as she made 122 three-pointers, which was also a franchise record.
While in college at the University of Iowa, Clark broke and set the Division 1 record for three-pointers made, making 548 across her career. Clark also holds the record for most three-pointers in a single season, scoring 201 in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Clark will go up against Sabrina Ionescu, the premier three-point shooter before Clark and the one who holds the record of most three-pointers made in the WNBA with 126. Then you also have the up-and-coming Sonia Citron, along with Allisha Gray, aiming to defend her 2024 win. Kelsey Plum rounds out the list.
Jul 9, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball while Golden State Valkyries forward Monique Billings (25) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Against this tough competition, Clark would have to be back in her mojo, but only one game remains before the All-Star weekend, and Clark showed their next opponents, the New York Liberty, what limitless shooting looks like the last time they faced. Clark came back from injury the last time against Liberty. She went on a heater and scored three consecutive logo shots within a 25-second span. So this gives her the best chance to turn back to that game and get her form back.
As the All-Star weekend approaches, all eyes are once again on Caitlin Clark, not just for her star power, but for how she responds under pressure. Despite injuries, criticism, and sky-high expectations, Clark continues to command the spotlight with the same fire that made her a household name. The 3-point contest offers more than just a trophy; it’s a stage for her to silence doubters, reclaim her rhythm, and remind everyone why she’s the face of the WNBA.
The post Caitlin Clark’s Unofficial Biographer Reignites Jealousy Debate Despite Indiana Star Winning ‘Face of the WNBA’ Player Poll appeared first on EssentiallySports.