Indiana Fever point guard was named to the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, her third ASG selection in as many seasons, as a starter. When Clark has been healthy, she’s been one of the most impressive players in the game, and this season she is showing why she was the number one overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.
On the season, Clark is averaging 20.5 ppg and 7.9 assists a night, putting her in the top five of both categories. Clark’s struggles defensively have been well-documented, but still, there’s been no denying that the massive impact she has when she’s on the floor.
Unfortunately, Wednesday night was Clark’s first game action in a bit, as she worked to recover from a back injury she suffered against the Phoenix Mercury. Clark struggled in her return, shooting 4-for-12 from the floor and 1-for-6 from the three-point line while under a limits restriction. Playing in short 2-3 minute spurts, Clark finished the game having played just 16 minutes in a 106-92 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. Apparently, that’s more than enough for some to question how much impact she really has.
In an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, analyst David Dennis Jr. made it clear that he feels Clark isn’t a top guard in the league, and even questioned how anyone else could rank her as such, especially in light of her finishing 11th in All-Star voting by her peers.
“I don’t think that you can make a compelling argument that Caitlin Clark is a top 4 guard in the WNBA. Like, nobody can at this point,” Dennis said.
“I don’t think that you can make a compelling argument that Caitlin Clark is a top-four guard in the WNBA.” @DavidDTSS speaks on Caitlin Clark’s hype coming into the league 👀 pic.twitter.com/tayIgi6new
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 9, 2026
“That is why she was 11th. She got the 11th most votes for being in the top 4. So there’s really no controversy about that, because especially when you add in the fact that she is one of the most popular players in the WNBA, she’s going to make the All-Star team. That is not the argument here.
“I think what bothers me is when this is framed as some sort of like petty jealousy or insecurity by these women in the WNBA, because that’s not what I’m seeing was happening with Caitlin Clark. Caitlin Clark is experiencing pretty much what happens anytime a young player comes into the league with a lot of hype, especially the hype that she’s receiving.”
Dennis is entitled to his take, but considering her otherworldly numbers she’s posted since her rookie year, when she made First-Team All-WNBA, the reality is that its much more difficult to make an argument against her being the best guard in the league.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.