Dick Vitale was not happy with Caitlin Clark’s final ranking in the recently concluded 2025 WNBA All-Star Game voting.
Clark unsurprisingly finished with the most fan votes in the league. The popular Fever star’s 1,293,536 vote total shattered the record for the most ever for a single player in WNBA history. But the fans only account for 50% of the All-Star vote. Votes from players and media account for 25% each.
What got Vitale upset was Clark’s spot in the player voting. Clark’s top-three finishes in both fan and media voting were dragged down by her ninth-placed finish in the player vote. The 86-year-old broadcaster claimed “jealousy” was the only explanation for Clark being ranked that low.
“Absolutely PURE JEALOUSY that WNBA players voted Caitlin Clark the 9th best guard,” Vitale wrote. “Some day they will realize what she Has done for ALL of the players in the WNBA . Charted planes – increase in salaries-sold out crowds – improved TV Ratings.”
Absolutely PURE JEALOUSY that @WNBA players voted Caitlin Clark the 9 th best guard . Some day they will realize what she Has done for ALL of the players in the WNBA . Charted planes – increase in salaries-sold out crowds – improved TV Ratings https://t.co/TwGj1DtQMU
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) July 1, 2025
Clark’s ranked just a notch lower than Dallas Wings rookie Paige Bueckers among guards in the weighted vote. While Bueckers was second behind Clark in the fan voting, the UConn alum was fourth in player voting.
There are a few reasons arguably hindered Clark from having an air-tight All-Star case. The Fever star’s 39.0% shooting from the field and 29.5% clip from the three-point line put her behind a lot of her peers. Her 5.9 turnovers per game also lead the WNBA by nearly double that of any other player.
Love or hate Clark, there’s still no denying the positive impact she’s had on the growth of the WNBA. But the attention Clark receives has not exactly made the Fever guard a popular figure among her peers.
While the adage “all publicity is good publicity” has its exceptions, having a legendary sportscaster like Vitale air his grievances about WNBA All-Star voting still has to be considered a net positive for the league.
