Parker criticizes low player-vote ranking for Clark in WNBA All-Star selection
Candace Parker said the WNBA players’ vote that placed Caitlin Clark 11th among guards was unacceptable, calling for clearer voting rules as the rookie still earned a starter spot.
Caitlin Clark was named a starter for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game after finishing second among guards in fan voting and third in media voting, but she ranked 11th in the players’ vote. Former star Candace Parker, a three-time champion and Hall of Famer, said the result was “crazy” and suggested the league should impose rules on how players cast their ballots.
Parker voiced her concerns on the "Post Moves" podcast with Fever forward Aliyah Boston, arguing that personal feelings should not influence All-Star selections. She noted that she would still vote for established players such as Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles despite any past rivalries.
The All-Star roster is determined by a weighted formula—50 percent fan votes, 25 percent media votes and 25 percent player votes. While Clark’s strong fan and media support secured her a starting position, the disparity in the player vote drew criticism.
Clark, who averages 21.2 points and 8.2 assists per game, leads the Indiana Fever near the top of the Eastern Conference. The voting process has faced scrutiny because fewer than half of the league’s players participated and they are permitted to vote for teammates, which can introduce bias based on popularity or personal relationships. Parker said the low player ranking reflected more on the voters than on Clark’s performance.