It’s the era of women’s basketball players! Three WNBA stars, Paige Bueckers, Aliyah Boston, and Napheesa Collier, have just earned a recognition reserved for players who are making true game-changing strides in the future of sports, an honor that was once held by the Indiana Fever star, Caitlin Clark.

On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Forbes announced that they had selected the trio for the 2026 30 Under 30 USA List, which is “an annual list… that highlights 30 outstanding individuals under the age of 30 who are making a significant impact in various fields.” With this achievement, Bueckers, Boston, and Collier now join the elite company of Clark and Angel Reese, who appeared on last year’s edition of the list.

Since being drafted first overall in 2023, Aliyah Boston has delivered on every expectation fans had from her and has since won Rookie of the Year, earned three straight All-Star selections, and recently led the Indiana Fever back to the playoffs in 2025, averaging 15 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, after the franchise became a victim of injuries.

But what truly elevates Boston into the “30 Under 30” territory is her growing footprint beyond the court. She’s an investor in the NWSL expansion club Boston Legacy FC and co-hosts a podcast with WNBA legend Candace Parker, expanding her reach as a voice in women’s sports. This combination of elite performance, leadership, and business influence is exactly what Forbes looks for, making her selection both deserved and inevitable.

On the other hand, Paige Bueckers secured her spot by delivering one of the best rookie years women’s basketball has seen in recent years. After ending her legendary UConn career with a national championship, Bueckers was the No. 1 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings. In her first year in the pro league, she won the Rookie of the Year award, averaging 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game and established herself as a player around whom the franchise is building its roster.

But she also has a business side to her, as Paige Bueckers even holds an equity stake in the three-on-three league Unrivaled and boasts a stacked portfolio of major sponsors, including Nike, which made her the first college NIL athlete to receive her own Player Edition sneaker. She even serves as the creative director for DoorDash. However, that’s not all, as the Wings star is also set to make her mark in the entertainment industry, where she is expected to star in and executive produce Jess & Pearl for Apple Original Films.

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, who co-founded the Unrivaled league with Breanna Stewart, was also named to the list as an “All-Star Alumni.” And yet, with fans celebrating the rise of the league’s new power players, one question has been on everybody’s mind: Where is Caitlin Clark’s name?

Why Caitlin Clark isn’t on the Forbes 2026 ’30 Under 30′ List?

Anybody who follows women’s basketball knows that the Fever guard Caitlin Clark is one of the biggest stars in the sport. Long before she even took the WNBA floor, Clark’s record-shattering career at Iowa and becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer launched her into national fame.

Her rise hasn’t just been about basketball, though. Clark has become a household name in recent years, and taking advantage of it, she has built a brand off her name, securing some of the most lucrative partnerships in women’s sports. Her partnerships include an eight-year contract with Nike, which has been reported to be worth $28 million, besides deals with Gatorade, State Farm, Wilson, and more.

At just 23, she has already built a multimillion-dollar brand, so when Forbes dropped its 2026 ‘30 Under 30’ list, fans were quick to notice something missing: Caitlin Clark’s name. And the simple reason behind that is how Forbes operates.

As per the trends, once someone appears on the list, they’re rarely included in future editions, so that new faces can get the chance to rise. And as CC was featured on the list last year, it makes her ineligible for 2026. The same is the case for the Chicago Sky star, Reese, who also earned her spot in 2025.