The Indiana Fever suffered their sixth loss of the season, the first since Caitlin Clark returned from injury three games ago. The Fever lost 88-77 in their first game against the new Golden State Valkyries franchise. Caitlin Clark had an off night with 11 points in 34 minutes, five of which were from the free throw line. The only bright spot was her nine assists, but it wasn’t enough. Clark went 3-for-14 from the field (.214%), his second-lowest percentage in his WNBA career and the worst this season. It was undoubtedly a night to forget, but the Fever must put it behind them quickly because their next game is against the Aces of MVP A’ja Wilson in Las Vegas.
Caitlin Clark Dominates Early All-Star Voting
As expected, Caitlin Clark has emerged as the top vote-getter in the early returns for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game, racking up an impressive 515,993 fan votes. Close behind is Minnesota Lynx star and MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier, who has received 484,758 votes. This sets the stage for an exciting showdown at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on July 19. Clark, an All-Star in her rookie year, is posting career-best numbers-19.9 points and 8.7 assists per game-while Collier, a four-time All-Star, is leading the league with 24.4 points per game and has the Lynx soaring at 11-1.
Other notable names in the voting include Fever teammate Aliyah Boston, who received 446,961 votes; Las Vegas Aces player and last year’s MVP, A’ja Wilson, who received 394,600 votes; and New York Liberty player Breanna Stewart, who received 367,819 votes. Fans account for 50% of the starter selection, alongside players and media members. Clark’s lead highlights her skyrocketing popularity and shows that she is the reason the league remains relevant, though this does not diminish the achievements of the other stars.
Rookies Bueckers and Iriafen Eclipse Reese in Voting Race
While Clark steals the spotlight, rookies Paige Bueckers and Kiki Iriafen are making their own mark by landing in the top 10 of All-Star voting. Bueckers, the first overall pick from the Dallas Wings, averages 17.7 points per game. Iriafen, a force for the Washington Mystics, contributes 13.3 points per game. Their standout debuts have overshadowed Angel Reese, last season’s rebounding queen, who is currently ranked 13th in the in the first fan vote return.
Reese, once a rookie sensation alongside Clark, is averaging just 11 points this year as the Chicago Sky struggles with a 3-8 record. Despite achieving a triple-double against the Sun recently-making her the second-youngest in WNBA history to do so-Reese has faced criticism for losing her edge. “I’m trying to get back to being super versatile,” she told The Athletic, crediting new coach Tyler Marsh for pushing her early in the season. Nevertheless, Clark’s vote total is triple Reese’s, proving that fans currently view her as the superior talent.
Read the full article here
