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Dick Vitale Claims ‘Jealousy’ Is Fueling WNBA Players’ Backlash Toward Caitlin Clark originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
There’s no denying that the WNBA has grown, improved, and reached new heights in popularity since Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was selected No. 1 overall in the 2024 draft, following a historic collegiate career at Iowa.
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Over the weekend, after an impressive start to her second WNBA season, Clark was named an All-Star captain alongside Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier.
However, when the rest of the All-Star starters were unveiled on Monday—along with the fan, media, and player voting results—one detail stood out.
While Clark dominated the fan vote, finishing No. 1, and ranked No. 3 among media members, there was a surprising outlier: she was ranked as the No. 9 guard by fellow players.
That unexpected drop caught the attention of many, including ESPN personality Dick Vitale, who suggested that jealousy over Clark’s massive fanbase and immediate impact on the league may be behind her lower player ranking.
“Absolutely PURE JEALOUSY that @WNBA players voted Caitlin Clark the 9th best guard,” Vitale posted. “Someday they will realize what she has done for ALL of the players in the WNBA—chartered planes, increased salaries, sold-out crowds, improved TV ratings.”
She was ranked by the players below Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers, her Fever teammate Kelsey Mitchell, Natasha Cloud, and even Brittney Sykes — all of whom Caitlin Clark has statistically outperformed.
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Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray claimed the No. 1 spot, followed by Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty at No. 2 and Seattle Storm veteran Skylar Diggins at No. 3.
Despite missing several games due to a quad injury and, more recently, a groin issue, Clark is still averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark© Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
There’s been an ongoing conversation about the way Clark is treated by some of her WNBA peers. Whether it’s rooted in jealousy or competitiveness, the scrutiny and behavior directed at her have raised eyebrows throughout her rookie season and into the early stages of year two with the Fever.
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Related: Shocking Caitlin Clark News Turns Heads on Monday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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