Expectations heading into Year 2 for Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark couldn’t be higher.
The 23-year-old guard and reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, shattered expectations last season, breaking multiple WNBA, rookie, and Fever franchise records en route to a first-team All-WNBA season and fourth-place finish in MVP voting.
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Those accolades were certainly taken into account when ESPN released its ranking of the top 25 players in the WNBA this week — a list that had Clark in the No. 4 spot behind reigning three-time MVP A’ja Wilson (No. 1), Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (No. 2), and New York Liberty forward and reigning WNBA champion Breanna Stewart (No. 3).
“A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and Caitlin Clark top our preseason ranking. Where does your favorite WNBA player land on our preseason top 25 list?” ESPN announced on Wednesday.
Though ESPN took some heat from fans on social media for not ranking Clark in the top three, moving into the top five quite the accomplishment given she wasn’t listed on ESPN’s preseason rankings last year and was 12th in its midseason rankings.
Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) celebrates with teammate Caitlin Clark (22).Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Fever acknowledged Clark’s spot on the list along with two of her teammates on Thursday as the team posted an eight-word message about it on social media.
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“Three in the @espn Top 25 player rankings 👀,” the Fever posted on X.
Along with Clark, Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell came in at No. 13 on the list, and 2023 Rookie of the Year Aliyah Boston was ranked 21st.
“After the franchise weathered several tough seasons, Mitchell had a career year in 2024 and was a huge part of the Fever’s return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016,” Alexa Philippou wrote. “Playing alongside Caitlin Clark helped open up things even more for Mitchell.
“Boston was an All-Star for the second year in a row, and her stats were similar to her WNBA Rookie of the Year season in 2023 when she was the league’s top pick,” Michael Voepel. “… That inside-outside pairing (with Clark) should be a key for Indiana this year, too.”
Related: ESPN Under Fire for Controversial Caitlin Clark Ranking
