Nancy Lieberman Anoints Caitlin Clark “Greatest WNBA Guard,” Igniting League-Wide Debate on Jealousy and Impact\

Women’s basketball icon Nancy Lieberman has ignited a fervent debate across the professional sports landscape, boldly declaring Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark the greatest guard in WNBA history. Lieberman’s pronouncement, made during a July 13, 2025 interview with TMZ Sports, serves as a direct challenge to the WNBA establishment and a call for players to embrace, rather than resent, Clark’s transformative influence on the league. The declaration arrives amidst swirling controversy surrounding Clark’s ninth-place ranking among guards in the recent WNBA All-Star player vote, despite her unprecedented 1.3 million fan votes.

Caitlin Clark, at just 23 years old, has undeniably reshaped the WNBA since her selection as the first overall pick in the 2024 draft. Her rapid ascent, widely dubbed the “Caitlin Clark effect,” has translated into historic viewership numbers, sold-out arenas, and a significant boost in the league’s commercial appeal. In her rookie campaign, Clark not only earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year award but also shattered single-season and single-game assist records, becoming the first rookie to achieve a triple-double. Despite battling early second-season injuries, including a quad strain and lingering groin issues that have sidelined her for 11 games, Clark continues to deliver elite performance, averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game in 2025.

Lieberman, a pioneer of women’s basketball with a storied career that included playing in the WNBA’s early years, underscored Clark’s unparalleled contribution to the sport’s burgeoning growth. “She’s the best guard in the league right now. Her numbers have proven it. Her game has proven it,” Lieberman asserted, drawing significant parallels between Clark’s market impact and that of legendary figures like Michael Jordan in basketball or Tiger Woods in golf. Lieberman passionately argued that Clark’s unique ability to captivate massive audiences and generate substantial revenue—evidenced by the WNBA’s recent advancements in chartered flights, increased player salaries, and soaring television ratings—should be a cause for widespread celebration within the league, not a source of resentment. “If she happens to be the cash cow right now, embrace it. Don’t be petty,” Lieberman urged, directly addressing what she perceives as an undercurrent of jealousy among Clark’s peers.

The recent All-Star voting has amplified this brewing tension. Despite topping all players in fan votes by a record margin, Clark’s ranking by fellow WNBA players as only the ninth-best guard has fueled intense speculation. Critics, including veteran basketball analyst Dick Vitale, have labeled the player vote “pure jealousy,” emphasizing Clark’s undeniable role in the WNBA’s explosive growth. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III echoed this sentiment, stating, “Some WNBA players are letting their jealousy of Caitlin Clark get in the way of greatness for the entire WNBA.”

Lieberman’s strong defense of Clark also illuminates a broader narrative regarding the rookie’s reception and treatment within the professional league. She drew a historical comparison to the “Bad Boys” era Detroit Pistons, who notoriously crafted specific rules to contain Michael Jordan, suggesting that Clark is currently navigating similar, intense scrutiny and defensive schemes. “This is what Caitlin Clark is. Don’t hate her,” Lieberman stated, appealing to players to focus on elevating their game through competition rather than fostering rivalry or ill will. She lauded other WNBA stars such as Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart, advocating for a collective spirit of mutual celebration to elevate the entire sport.

However, not every analysis of Clark’s controversial All-Star ranking points solely to jealousy. Some reputable analysts, including Nancy Armour of USA TODAY, contend that Clark’s ninth-place standing could reasonably reflect her performance in a challenging sophomore season. Her campaign has been marked by not only high expectations but also significant injury setbacks and a league-leading 5.9 turnovers per game. Her absence from 11 games due to quad and groin injuries may have genuinely influenced her peers’ voting considerations. Yet, even with these obstacles, Clark’s statistical prowess—ranking second in assists and eleventh in scoring among qualified players—underscores her elite standing and continued on-court dominance.

Lieberman’s vocal support for Clark also comes amidst her own widely publicized feud with fellow WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes. In September 2024, Swoopes faced considerable backlash for making inaccurate statements about Clark’s college career, specifically implying that Clark benefited from an extra “COVID year” to achieve her scoring records. Lieberman, who initially sought to privately correct Swoopes, later revealed on The Stephen A. Smith Show that their long-standing friendship was “pretty much done” due to the disagreement. Swoopes subsequently responded on social media, refuting Lieberman’s account of their conversation and defending her stance on Clark. This highly visible rift between two icons of women’s basketball has added another contentious layer to the ongoing public discourse surrounding Clark’s reception and the perceived tensions within the WNBA.

Further underscoring her challenging second season, Clark was forced to withdraw from the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend due to a groin injury sustained during a game against the Connecticut Sun. In a heartfelt gesture, Lieberman sent a video message to Clark from a Dallas youth basketball camp, praising her character and monumental impact on the game. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for the game. You’re epic as a basketball player, but we’re praying that you will heal quickly,” Lieberman conveyed. The recurring injury concerns have raised legitimate questions about Clark’s long-term health and durability, with Fever coach Stephanie White emphasizing the critical importance of rest to ensure her sustained career longevity.

Despite the persistent controversies and physical challenges, Caitlin Clark remains a polarizing yet undeniably magnetic force in the WNBA. Her celebrated college career at Iowa, where she became the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer with an astounding 3,951 points and secured the prestigious Nancy Lieberman Award three times as the nation’s top point guard, unequivocally set the stage for her professional impact. Her ability to draw comparisons to basketball giants like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, as noted by Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller, highlights her rare blend of talent and marketability. However, Miller also wisely pointed out the media’s historical tendency to sensationalize women’s sports rivalries, suggesting that Clark’s compelling on-court competition with Angel Reese could be celebrated as “great theater” rather than petty personal jealousy.

As the WNBA progresses into the crucial second half of the 2025 season, Clark’s profound influence continues to redefine the league’s trajectory. With the Indiana Fever currently holding a competitive 12-11 record and fiercely contending for a playoff berth, Clark’s anticipated return from injury will be absolutely vital for the team’s postseason aspirations. Lieberman’s impassioned call to “just go out and ball” resonates as a potent challenge to Clark’s peers—an invitation to elevate their own play to match her prodigious talent and collectively capitalize on the unprecedented opportunities her stardom is generating for women’s professional basketball. Whether the WNBA fully embraces Clark as its singular “cash cow” and strategically leverages her transformative influence remains an open question, but her indelible impact—both on and off the court—is now an undeniable and irreversible reality shaping the sport’s future.