ESPN sparks outrage with ‘disrespectful’ Caitlin Clark move

Apr 25, 2026; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts during the first half against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark is undoubtedly the most high-profile player in the WNBA. However, according to ESPN, she’s nowhere near that best.

After a sensational, record-breaking rookie season that saw her earn an All-Star nod as well as the league’s Rookie of the Year award, Clark’s second season in the WNBA did not go quite as planned. Not only did Clark’s stats drop across the board, but she also spent a significant portion of the season sidelined with an injury.

Now, Clark is looking to bounce back this season, but she seems to have lost quite a bit of the momentum and hype she had with the media.

Ahead of the 2026 WNBA season, ESPN released a set of power rankings, ranking the top 50 players in the league. While Clark might be the face of the league, she came in at just No. 10 on the list.

“Clark received the fourth-most MVP votes as a rookie while setting a single-season league record for assists and posting the second-most 3-point field goals in a season,” ESPN wrote of Clark.

“She became one of the league’s best passers and long-range shooters the moment she stepped onto a WNBA court, and was just getting started when she was named Rookie of the Year and first-team all-WNBA in 2024. Injuries limited her to only 13 games in 2025, but she was still named an All-Star,” the ESPN blurb continued.

Ranked ahead of Clark was Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum at No. 9, reigning Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings at No. 8, star at No. 7, New York Liberty star at No. 6, star at No. 5, New York Liberty star at No. 4, star at No. 3, star at No. 2, and reigning MVP at No. 1.