“It’s Either Delusion or Jealousy”: Emmanuel Acho Gets Real About WNBA Players Ranking Caitlin Clark the 9th Best Player

Samnur Reza | 02/07/2025
Emmanuel Acho, Caitlin Clark

On Monday, we finally got our hands on the WNBA’s All-Star voting results, and as expected, Caitlin Clark earned a starting spot and was named one of the team captains. Like it or not, she’s become the face of the league. But here’s where things get interesting: this much-deserved recognition didn’t come from her fellow players. It was the fans who propelled her to the top, while her peers ranked her ninth among guards.

Clark received nearly 1.3 million fan votes, which made up 50% of the weighted score, and that’s the main reason she’ll be suiting up as an All-Star starter and captain. The media gave her some love too, ranking her third, which accounts for 25% of the vote. But the players? You already know. They ranked her just ninth. It’s a head-scratcher, no doubt.

Sure, Clark missed seven of the Fever’s first 16 games this season. She also sat out last week’s hyped matchup against Paige Bueckers in Dallas with a groin injury. But ninth? That feels personal. And former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho seems to agree. Sorry, Kevin Durant, but we’re siding with Acho on this one.

“To rank her as the ninth best guard leads me to believe that it’s either delusion or it is jealousy… I’m not speaking about an individual WNBA player, I’m speaking about the WNBA players,” Acho said on The Facility.

“How do you vote her as the ninth best guard, though you treat her as the best, second best, or worst, third best guard?” asked the former linebacker.

https://twitter.com/TheFacilityFS1/status/1940074745959260265

Acho isn’t alone in this, obviously. Basketball sportscaster Dick Vitale shared on X his disappointment with the WNBA for how they went on to snub the 2024 Rookie of the Year. Vitale also felt it was “pure jealousy,” reminding everyone what Clark has done for the league. Charter planes, sold-out crowds, salary increases, better TV ratings, all that.

Away from the buzz, Clark is starting to lock in for the upcoming event on July 19, which just so happens to take place on her home court, Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Acknowledging league commissioner Cathy Engelbert, the No. 1-ranked guard (according to fans) said, “We about to get that dub, Cathy.”

Surely, that snub will only make even more fans root for Clark to get the win.

Post Edited By: Samnur Reza
Caitlin Clark Emmanuel Acho

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Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. Samnur now diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and the NCAA. He considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 1500 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over two years ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in Elden Ring (New Game +6).

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