Dick Vitale hammers WNBA players for ranking Caitlin Clark ninth among guards in All-Star voting

ESPN‘s Dick Vitale called out WNBA players on Monday for voting the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark as the ninth-best guard in All-Star voting. In an X post, Vitale called it “pure jealousy” from the players.

“Absolutely PURE JEALOUSY that ⁦[WNBA] players voted Caitlin Clark the 9th best guard,” Vitale wrote. “Someday they will realize what she Has done for ALL of the players in the WNBA. Chartered planes – increase in salaries-sold out crowds – improved TV Ratings.”

The full All-Star voting tally was released Monday. Clark was named one of two captains alongside Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx after receiving the most fan votes. She finished third in the media vote and ninth in the players vote.

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray received the most votes among both media and players. Gray is averaging career highs across the board with 19.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Caitlin Clark shatters WNBA All-Star Game voting record

Clark, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, has missed seven of 16 games this season due to injury. She is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. Clark is shooting just 29.5% from behind the arc and leads the league with 5.9 turnovers per game. The Fever are 3-4 in games without Clark compared to 5-4 in the games that she has played this season.

Clark’s teammate and fellow guard, Kelsey Mitchell, received more votes from players. But Clark ran away with the fan vote, which accounted for 50% of the weighted average. Fever forward Aliyah Boston, who finished second in frontcourt fan voting, will join Clark as an All-Star starter. The WNBA All-Star Game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET on July 19.

Clark and Collier will draft their respective All-Star squads. The following players earned starting spots:

• Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever
• Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings
• Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream
• Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
• Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm
• Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury
• Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
• A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces.