Caitlin Clark calls out Indiana Fever AI graphic as fans sound off on rank in WNBA top-50 list
Caitlin Clark took to social media Thursday to call out an Indiana Fever graphic that was made with AI tools.
A since-removed slide on a recent Instagram post showed the WNBA star and her teammate Aliyah Boston promoting Indiana’s local broadcast schedule.
The image deformed Clark’s hand in a way that she soon recognized and reacted to.
Caitlin Clark calls out Fever over AI post
“New hand alert,” the 2024 Rookie of the Year commented, appearing to poke fun at the Fever‘s mistake.
According to Front Office Sports, the graphic was produced using an AI tool, in an attempt to combine an image of Clark with a separate image of Boston.
The slide has now been taken out of the Instagram post, but Clark’s comment is still visible.
Indiana, of course, aren’t the only team utilizing AI tools in this day and age, with a surge of viral AI-generated content appearing across social media.
While Clark has been active in calling out mistakes on social media this week, she will soon be locked in on the 2026 WNBA season, which tips off on Friday, May 8, after a historic Collective Bargaining Agreement was signed.
The Fever begin their campaign a day later, hosting Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on Saturday.
ESPN recently published their ranking of the top 50 players heading into the new season, in a list that has caused quite the stir.
There was little argument over the No. 1 spot, which went to four-time MVP A’ja Wilson of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
She also held that position last year.
Clark’s ranking, though, upset plenty online.
WNBA fans sound off on Caitlin Clark’s pre-season rank
Putting her at No. 10 on the list, Kareem Copeland wrote: “Clark received the fourth-most MVP votes as a rookie while setting a single-season league record for assists and posting the second-most 3-point field goals in a season.
“She became one of the league’s best passers and long-range shooters the moment she stepped onto a WNBA court, and was just getting started when she was named Rookie of the Year and first-team all-WNBA in 2024.
“Injuries limited her to only 13 games in 2025, but she was still named an All-Star.”
ESPN’s top five consisted of Wilson, Alyssa Thomas, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and Jackie Young, while Clark was ranked further behind Sabrina Ionescu, Allisha Gray and even her ROTY successor Bueckers.
Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles Sparks sits directly above her at No. 9.
It’s fair to say the rankings split opinion, with plenty of fans taking to social media to share their thoughts.
“There aren’t 9 players better then CC lol,” one wrote, responding to an ESPN post that has been seen by more than half a million accounts.
“This is mad disrespectful. Imagine ESPN treating LeBron or (Michael) Jordan like this when he was playing,” another said, comparing Clark to two basketball greats.
“Paige Bueckers, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Allisha Gray and even Alyssa Thomas are not above CC. What is this harebrained nonsense?” a third questioned.
“I’ve never seen a more disrespected athlete in any sport than Caitlin,” a fourth concluded.
Others, though, saw the logic behind Clark’s rank.
“All about the stats and no more. If you missed due to injury you dropped in the list,” one suggested.
“This is the most accurate list, if you think CC should be higher, you don’t know ball,” a second claimed.
“Coming off an injury riddled season this is fair. She needs to ball,” a third wrote.
Soon, it will be time for all the talking to stop.
And when she gets back on the court, Clark might well be out to prove that she deserved a higher pre-season ranking from ESPN.
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