Dick Vitale Defends Caitlin Clark Amid WNBA All-Star Controversy

ESPN’s Dick Vitale is one of the more recognizable names in the college basketball scene.

So when he speaks, most people listen.

Vitale was among the many who were upset about Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark being ranked as the ninth-best guard by her peers in the player voting portion of the WNBA All-Star process after ranking first in fan voting and third in media voting — and he took to X to air his grievances.

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In an interview with Front Office Sports, Vitale called out those players who voted Clark as the ninth-best guard in the WNBA behind Atlanta’s Allisha Gray (No. 1), New York’s Sabrina Ionescu (No. 2), Seattle’s Skylar Diggins (No. 3), Dallas rookie Paige Bueckers (No. 4), New York’s Natasha Cloud (No. 4), and teammate Kelse Mitchell (No. 6).

“I feel strongly that various players don’t give Caitlin Clark the respect she deserves,” Vitale told FOS. “What she has done to help the WNBA has been unbelievable. Think about it. PR excitement. Ticket sales. TV Ratings and interest. Salary increases. More charter flights than the past. Plus, she is so exciting to watch. Lots of jealousy.”

Clark, who was named of two captains for the All-Star game, dominated the fan vote, earning a league-record 1,293,526 votes — significantly more than Napheesa Collier, the other team captain who finished with the second-most votes (1,76,020 votes).

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Thursday’s outburst wasn’t the first time Vitale had sounded off about Clark’s treatment from the rest of the WNBA players.

When the All-Star voting totals were released on June 30, Vitale once again was on X venting about what he perceived as “pure jealousy” toward Clark, who many believe has put the WNBA on the map since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2024.

He doubled down 24 hours later, calling Clark “the best thing to happen to the WNBA,” and stating the way she’s being treated by the other players is absurd.

Vitale also pointed out what he believed to be ungrateful behavior for all Clark has done for those players, which include the record television ratings, sold-out crowds, and the expected dramatic increase in player salaries in the next collective bargaining agreement.

While some may not be defending Clark as passionately as Vitale, many other media pundits have pointed out the perceived irrationality of Clark being the ninth-best player at her position given her decorated WNBA resume that includes a near-unanimous Rookie of the Year selection, an All-WNBA first-team selection, and a fourth-place finish in MVP voting during her debut season in 2024.