One first-place vote. That is all Caitlin Clark got in the 2026 MVP race. The Fever star ranked third in the league in scoring and trailed only Alyssa Thomas in assists. But she finished fourth in the voting, behind her own teammate Kelsey Mitchell, and with almost half the points Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles received. The backlash started almost immediately, even from some who backed A’ja Wilson (winner) to win her fifth MVP award. 

 Clark averaged 22.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. For most of the season, she was among the top three frontrunners for the award, and perhaps that’s why the fans are bewildered by the voting. 

Of the voting team that comprised of national sportswriters and broadcasters, Clark received one 1st-place vote, six 2nd-place votes, 20 for 3rd place, 16 for 4th, and 12th for 5th place. Compared to her winner, A’ja Wilson received 65 1st-place votes and 9 2nd-place votes. The chasm between their reception among the voters has left fans fuming, prompting some to suggest that the Fever star should leave for Europe. 

“This league is a joke. Caitlin Clark should come to Europe. She would be appreciated,” a fan wrote. 

Clark has the largest fan following for a player in the WNBA. Her arrival changed the entire calculus of the WNBA and the Indiana Fever, who had all of their 44 games nationally televised. Meanwhile, her fans have constantly accused the league of not appreciating her enough. 

Of the 74 voters, only 55 had the Fever star on their ballots. The other 19 decided to leave her off their ballots entirely. For a player who was one of the top five players in the league throughout the season, the decision by 19 members raises eyebrows. An upset fan wanted all of their credentials pulled. 

“Some voters need to have their credentials pulled for leaving Clark off entirely. This league continues to show how stupid they are from top to bottom,” the fan wrote. 

Clark and Mitchell (2) combined for three 1st-place votes, half of what Olivia Miles (6) received. Miles was the best player on the best team in the league, but she ranked 8th in the league in scoring, far below Clark (3rd) and Mitchell (2nd). Clark averaged 2.3 assists more than the Lynx rookie. The stark difference between performances and the voting prompted some fans to question legitimacy.  

“Miles finishing with more than Mitchell and Clark combined proves this award is an absolute joke. It’s become the most meaningless award in professional sports,” one fan wrote.

Caitlin Clark was also ranked second in usage rate in the entire league, and the only player ahead of her was A’ja Wilson. She anchored the offense of the best offensive team in the league with extraordinary numbers. Clark had historic numbers that, at least, seemed disrespected by many fans.

“You robbed Caitlin Clark of the MVP. She made history, broke records, and put up numbers no one in this league ever has. What more does she have to do to get the recognition she deserves?…” a fan commented.

In a game against the Seattle Storm in July, Clark recorded 45 points, 10 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. She became the first-ever player in ‌WNBA history to have a game with 40+ points and 10+ assists. She also had 13 regular-season games (23 in total) this season with 20+ points and 10+ assists. It is over double the time any player has ever achieved in the league’s history. 

Clark also recorded five games with 30+ points and 10 assists, which is more than all of the players with the same numbers combined, ever. She totaled 891 points, surpassing Diana Taurasi to score the most points by a point guard in a WNBA season.

Considering everything that the Fever star was able to achieve and put on the stat board, the backlash against voting numbers doesn’t seem unjustified.