ESPN senior writer David Dennis Jr. isn't thrilled with the narratives surrounding Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark this season.
Even though Clark has been named a starter for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, fans didn't appreciate that she was ranked No. 11 among all guards for player voting. Three-time champion and seven-time All-Star Candace Parker also had an issue with Clark being ranked outside of the top 10.
“It’s also kind of crazy. Like, I wholeheartedly believe that there needs to be some rules with the WNBA players because this is getting out of hand. Caitlin Clark voted 11th best guard by WNBA players – that’s crazy,” Parker said. “I think people need to look at themselves in the mirror and realize, like, man, you got you got some insecurities if you sitting down and putting Caitlin Clark as the 11th best guard. Like, y’all, y’all need to go to a therapist and figure out what childhood issues you have, because if you’re sitting there and looking at yourself in the mirror and putting her as 11th best guard.”
© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images.
During this Thursday's episode of "First Take," Dennis fired back at those remarks from Parker. He claims Clark isn't being mistreated by her peers.
If anything, Dennis agrees that Clark should be outside of the top four in regards to All-Star voting.
"I don’t think you can make a compelling argument that Caitlin Clark is a top four guard in the WNBA. Nobody can at this point. That is why she was 11th. She got the 11th-most votes for being in the top four. So there’s really no controversy about that, especially when you add in the fact that she is one of the most popular players in the WNBA; she’s going to make the All-Star Game," Dennis Jr. said, via Awful Announcing.
"What bothers me is when this is framed as some sort of petty jealousy or insecurity by these women in the WNBA. Because that’s not what I’m seeing is happening with Caitlin Clark. Caitlin Clark is experiencing pretty much what happens anytime a young player comes into the league with a lot of hype, especially the hype that she’s receiving that says the whole entire league should be thankful that she’s there."
Not everyone agrees with Dennis.
Just a week ago, Fox Sports radio host Colin Cowherd argued that WNBA players are petty for snubbing Clark.
“She’s the No. 1 shooter, distributor, play initiator, playmaker, and she was voted the 11th best guard in the sport,” Cowherd said. “WNBA fans voted her as the 11th best guard. The animosity towards Caitlin Clark – a lot of people are getting angry on the internet. It’s just so petty.”
Cowherd also had an issue with Clark being left off the WNBA's 30th anniversary poster.
“The WNBA just keeps driving into a wall at full speed with Caitlin Clark. They have a commemorative poster for 30 years of the WNBA; Caitlin Clark isn’t on it. This isn’t an ode to the veterans who started the league – Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese are on it. When she broke into the league, you [the WNBA] moved her road games to accommodate the fans. She made such an impact that you transitioned to private jets. And yet Caitlin isn’t on the 30-year poster,” Cowherd said. “Her games got double the ratings of A’ja Wilson, the best player in the league. This is a paranoid, weird, insular league.”
We'll see if Cowherd fires back at Dennis' remarks later this week.
