The headlines hit fast, and they hit hard: Caitlin Clark has exploded onto the WNBA fan‑voting scene, becoming the first player to break the half‑million mark this season, and Angel Reese entered the top ranks as well, signaling a changing of the guard in women’s pro basketball. With Clark leading the pack at 515,993 and Reese clocking in at 173,363—good enough for 13th overall—the numbers tell a story not just of rising stars but of a league in transformation.
This year’s All‑Star voting methodology—50 percent fan ballots, 25 percent from current players, and 25 percent from media—ensures that early numbers reflect sheer popularity rather than final selection status. Nonetheless, seeing Clark so far ahead and Reese breaking through the noise is emblematic of not just performances but narrative momentum.
Only a few days into the voting window (which runs until June 28), Clark’s commanding lead is particularly notable given the crowded field of experienced vets and rising stars. For context: in 2024, Clark and her teammate Aliyah Boston topped fan voting with over 700,000 and 618,000 votes respectively, a staggering 600 percent increase from 2023’s totals. This year, while overall tallies aren’t quite as astronomical, breaking the half‑million mark in early returns is impressive—and positions Clark well for yet another dominant finish.
Behind Clark in the early field are figures like Napheesa Collier (484,758), Aliyah Boston, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers, Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull, and Sabrina Ionescu—each a known quantity with games and fanbases to match. The fact that Clark has not only reached the top but done so decisively speaks to a phenomenon already dubbed “the Caitlin Clark effect,” where her debut with the Fever catalyzed spike after spike in TV ratings, attendance, and social media buzz . The Fever’s home arenas have sold out at record rates, WNBA viewership surged nearly 462 percent over the previous season, and once‑sleepy markets like Indiana and beyond are enthralled.
And yet, notwithstanding Clark’s banner, Reese’s appearance is neither symbolic nor faint. Although her 13th‑place position is lower than one might expect given her stature and college fame, that she has nearly 175k votes indicates a strong fan reaction. At 6‑foot‑3 and a bruising power forward, Reese brings a different fanbase and aesthetic to the league—one steeped in reclamation, grit, and dominance on the glass. Her 2024 rookie season featured record double‑double streaks, Olympic‑caliber rebounding, and consistently viral performances .
Her position at 13th now, however, raises questions about differing fan motivations. Clark’s scoring prowess and assist‑wizardry are flashy; Reese’s work might be more subtle to casual viewers. It suggests fans are rallying harder behind guards and offensive focal points, but the door remains open: there’s time and enough performance moments ahead for Reese to surge into true contention.
Indeed, with the voting fresh and still a week-plus to go, momentum shifts could be explosive. In 2024’s fan returns, Clark was near‑instant #1, with a narrow lead over A’ja Wilson (216k vs. 217k) in early rounds; Reese was close behind at \~118k , and then surged to a final 381k—fifth overall. Drawing parallels, Reese may yet double down on rebounds or highlight clips and double her early returns, moving well within the top ten.
But it’s not just raw numbers. Several players are making headlines: rookies like Paige Bueckers and Kiki Iriafen already claim top‑ten spots (Bueckers at #6 with 312k; Iriafen top‑10 frontcourt with 213k. This indicates fans are responding not only to proven veterans but to potential—champions who could someday lead their own franchises. It’s become a narrative of freshness, youth, new blood—and Clark and Reese sit at the epicenter.
Beyond individual stars, the voting reflects broader league dynamics. Four Fever players—Clark, Boston, Mitchell, and Lexie Hull—rank among the top ten so far. That concentration raises questions about voter fatigue and ballot‑tanking (voters picking their favorite over a full roster). Still, it underscores Indiana’s national rise. The Fever surged from rebuilding to contender overnight, driven by Clark’s arrival.
Meanwhile, veteran figures such as Stewart, Wilson, Ionescu, and Collier hold expected positions among the top ten. Their presence reinforces WNBA’s layered appeal: a mix of established champions alongside the meteoric rookies—giving the league both history and modern hype. Collier, currently sitting just behind Clark with \~485k votes, offers a stabilizing force: a known lead, no rookie buzz, but consistent floor leadership .
Rising awareness, interesting rivalries, and greater spotlight all drive voting volume. Clark and Reese’s NCAA reunion last March, when Reese taunted Clark from the LSU bench, left an imprint. It launched a long‑running rivalry narrative that’s only intensified in the pros, and fans feed on that tension . Whether it’s comeback wins, double‐double streaks, or heated exchanges, every skirmish adds to the mythology—and as voting continues, every spike in social media activity directly affects these tallies.
The mechanism of voting ensures that no single group dominates. Fans represent half, but current players and media contribute meaningfully. Still, these numbers are early and raw: fans have the discrete option to submit one ballot per day, listing four guards and six frontcourt players—meaning daily voting blitzes can catapult candidates. Coaches, interestingly, do not yet weigh in—that comes later in 2024’s model when coaches selected remaining roster spots after accounting for Team USA Olympians .
That Olympic overlay will be a feature in 2024’s setup but not in 2025. That means Clark and Reese, neither on the current Olympic roster, stand to benefit from absence of forced exclusions. The top four guards and six frontcourt vote‑getters across fan, player, and media tallies will automatically earn All‑Star starting nods. Two highest fan vote‑getters serve as captains for draft teams ([ctinsider.com][7]). Thus, Clark is not just leading in votes—she’s leading in narrative power, pulling in captain potential if she stays atop fan ballots.
All of this culminates in the July 19 All‑Star event in Indianapolis, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse ([sportskeeda.com][3], [en.wikipedia.org][5]). The Fever hosting the event adds another dimension: local fan engagement and ticket energy. Hot takes will swirl—will Clark become captain? Will Reese climb from mid‑tier fringe pick to locked‑in starter? Will veterans rebound? It’s a mix of performance, buzz, grassroots voting, and star power.
The media has already begun to comment on the implications. Some argue Clark’s popularity “forced” higher attention on the league and even boosted the early voting overall by multiples . Others remind that Clark topped 700k votes last year, dwarfing even Clark’s own early 2025 tally—but note that overall seasonal context was different: that was rookie season hype, this is sophomore surge. So comparing across years must contextualize maturity; 515k now is still remarkable for halfway point.
As for Reese, though 13th may feel low, look at Angel Reese’s trajectory. In 2024, she was fifth in final fan voting with 381k—starting from around 118k in early returns. If history repeats, her continued double‑double dominance and highlight reels could produce a similar climb. Her story is about grinding grit, being underdog, and bucking traditional popularity arcs—something that resonates deeply with fans who crave authenticity and hustle.
Meanwhile, rookies like Iriafen and Bueckers in frontcourt and guard categories are winning attention—not just in the vote but in media narratives. All of this points to a season where the W is not just about a few star names, but a generation—Emily, Tiffany, Lexie, Paige—on their way up, filling wider rosters, wider storylines.
Broadcast numbers from ESPN, Disney+, and WNBA League Pass will be critical in next waves. Voters will watch for big box scores: double‑doubles, triple‑doubles, highlight dunks, deep threes. Sunday’s key matchups, such as Chicago Sky vs. Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty vs. Seattle Storm, etc., are crafted to serve as mid‑season electrifiers—and they double as vote‑gatherers . These are narrative weeks as much as season games.
As the vote clock ticks down, the next moves of both stars will matter more—with dynamic cases in court and spotlight. Clark’s infectious charisma, assist magic, and growing command of pro play support the idea she’ll remain No. 1. Reese’s tempo, physicality, and dominance in second‑chance points stake a claim for late surge.
Looking ahead, coaches and media will weigh in before final rosters are declared in early July. This year, coaches may be more inclined to diversify rather than mimic fan trends, though Clark and Reese bring high excitement—hard for coaches to ignore. In 2024, Reese made Team WNBA via coaches despite mixed fan vs. player rankings . The same path remains open.
Ultimately, this All‑Star voting season captures a pivotal moment: the historic flood of voting, the rise of new voices, and the reshaping of narratives. Caitlin Clark’s ascendancy is more than a story of points and charisma—it’s reshaping league economics, sponsorships, TV slots. Angel Reese’s climb speaks to diversifying stories, athleticism, and battling stereotypes. Combined, they anchor a transitional era where rookies don’t just join—they lead.
In closing, early returns show Caitlin Clark firmly in front at 515,993 votes, with Angel Reese at 173,363 in 13th. Clark is positioned not just as a star but as the driver of a league wave. Reese’s ascent is still in motion and poised to climb. With a voting window still open and momentum building, fans are in for a charged week ahead—with new highlights, numbers to climb, and perhaps headline rivalries or rookie revelations. Come July 19 in Indianapolis, the WNBA will showcase not one but a generation of leaders—Clark, Reese, Bueckers, Iriafen, Boston, Collier, Stewart—each commanding voice, each reshaping the game. And the numbers, as ever, will tell the story.
