When Indiana fever picked Caitlin Clark as the first overall pick at the 2024 WNBA draft, hopes were high. The 22-year-old did not disappoint either! She committed 10 turnovers in her debut game, the most in a debut in WNBA history. By her eighth game in May, she was already the fastest WNBA rookie to surpass 100 points and 50 assists. That same month, she was also named Rookie of the Month after averaging 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game.

But, despite such notable accomplishments, the Fever lost their seven out of eight matches. To add insult to that injury, Clark was left out of the 2024 Paris Olympic team. It wasn’t a snub—the rookie was reportedly “inexperienced” to play under FIBA rules, and Paris would’ve been the first time she played an international game. While Clark said she wasn’t disappointed, a setback is a setback. And now, she suffered another one.

At the moment, she is the highest assist maker in the W and has been earning praise from all quarters. But the WNBA doesn’t think so, it seems! They just released the MVP rankings and the 2024 WNBA All-Star was lower than fans expected at sixth. This didn’t go down well with her admirers, who vented their frustration on the league through social media.

Notably, A’ja Wilson topped the list. This was pretty much expected, considering the 28-year-old was having an exceptional season just days before her latest ankle injury. She averaged 27.5 points with 11.9 rebounds per game this season so far. Next on the list is Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier. She’s currently tied for eighth in blocks per game and third in the league in steals per game, averaging 3.2 combined steals and blocks, behind Wilson and Ezi Magbegor.

Admirers had speculated the Iowa alum to be just after Wilson and Collier. Her efforts in taking the Indiana Fever to the seventh position, especially after the Fever had been written off by most analysts, was commended by many. However, next on the list preceding her is Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas.

But why exactly are fans angry?

Fans slam the WNBA

After the news broke, one fan posted a simple question:

As expected, the comments had a long list of complaints. One user simply made fun of Alyssa Thomas by writing, “THOMAS IN 2024 🤣😭”. Perhaps the user was pointing to the fact that the Connecticut Sun star averages just 10.6 points with 8.7 rebounds per game. As per the fan, Clark averages significantly better with 19 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.

What’s noteworthy is Clark became the first rookie to score a triple-double during a W season after she hit 19 points with 12 rebounds and 13 assists during a game against the New York Liberty in July. Then she broke Courtney Vandersloot’s record by dishing out 19 assists in a game against the Dallas Wings during the same month.

To top it off, she eclipsed Ticha Penicheiro’s record of 225 assists when she scored her 226th assist by giving a pass to Kelsey Mitchell during a game against the Seattle Storm in August. If that wasn’t enough, she has the most three-pointers by a rookie in a single season, breaking Rhyne Howard’s record. And recently, during a game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday, Caitlin Clark dished out her second triple-double, the most by a rookie in a season.

That might explain the next fan’s opinion. “1. A’ja 2. Caitlin 3. Arike 4. Napheesa,” they mentioned. Just like Wilson has been the driving force behind the Las Vegas Aces, Clark has been the mainstay for the Fever. It is due to Clark that the Fever are eyeing the playoffs this season, something they haven’t accomplished since 2016.

“She deserves the 3 or 4 spot. She’s ahead of Thomas and Ionescu in my opinion. I could argue for or against being ahead of Stewart,” wrote another user. Just like she has been ahead of Thomas in the stats, the 22-year-old also seems to be ahead of Sabrina Ionescu, who averages 19.4 points with 4.6 rebounds and 6 assists per game, which is lower than Clark’s rebounds and assists average.

“I would have ranked Clarke number 1,” one follower stated. The fan could have given additional brownie points to Clark since it is her rookie season. Therefore, as per the fan, the 2x AP Player of the Year should have gotten a spot ahead of Wilson who is a stalwart in her field.

While Clark still has five regular season games to go, it will be interesting to see where she takes the Fever. And then perhaps, her fans can take a rest when the results for the MVP come out.