Fans and the media are always excited for the WNBA All-Star games, as their opinions hold great value, with 75% of the votes taken into account. As for the players, well, that is a different story altogether.

Out of the roughly 180 players in the WNBA, only 85 submitted ballots for starters ahead of this month's WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago, according to ESPN.

With less than half the participation, questions obviously arise as to why this is the case. The teams are responsible for distributing the ballots, and some Los Angeles Sparks players, for example, did not receive them.

"Some players indicated that they didn't receive the email or weren't aware of it until after the voting period had closed. That's something we take responsibility for as an organization, and we'll have a more robust process going forward." The Sparks told ESPN.

Fans account for 50% of the vote, with the media and the players taking a quarter each. With voting coming from three different ideologies, discrepancy is bound to happen.

Taking examples of Sparks players, Kelsey Plum finished 12th in the player ranking for guards, but sixth in the fan ranking and fifth among media. She is the league's second-highest scorer despite playing only 12 games due to injury.

Meanwhile, veteran Nneka Ogwumike finished seventh in the player ranking among frontcourt players, eighth in the fan vote, and 10th for media.

But the biggest controversial decision in the latest All-Star rankings once again involved Caitlin Clark, who was ranked shockingly low among her peers.

Caitlin Clark Snubbed by Fellow Players in All-Star Voting

Last year, players voted Caitlin Clark as the ninth-best guard in the league. This time around, she got dropped out of the Top 10 as the eleventh (!) best guard in the WNBA.

On the contrary, Clark was ranked as the second-best guard among fans and third by the media.

While she was still voted a starter in the July 25 All-Star Game, Clark's current numbers do not make it seem like there are 10 guards better than her.

Coming off an injury-riddled season, Clark is averaging career highs in points (21.2) and field goal percentage (43) for the Fever in her third year and second full season.

Overall, though, Clark ultimately had the third-best weighted score in voting, only trailing behind Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers and Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles.

Apart from Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston will also be joining her as starters, and both of them were ranked higher than Clark by the players.

Clark has been a topic of controversy throughout this season, be it scuffles with opponents, being left out of important posters by the league, back issues, or analysts calling her out left, right, and center for interactions.

Regardless, the Indiana Fever star now has the opportunity in the All-Star Game to shut down all critics and prove to her peers why she is one of the best in the business.

So, do you think Caitlin Clark can further prove herself in this year's All-Star Game? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy