ESPN just dropped its ranking of the greatest 30 players in WNBA history to mark the league’s 30th season, and you know what? Neither Atlanta Dream superstar Angel Reese nor Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark landed on that list. Nope, not a single spot for two of the biggest names in the game right now. This list hit the day the WNBA Finals are still going on between the Dream and the Golden State Valkyries, adding even more heat to the conversation.
Why the Legends in the Making Didn’t Make the Cut… Yet
Okay, so why no Reese? Why no Clark? The panel’s take was pretty clear: these two simply don’t have the track record *yet* to hang with the historic players filling out that top 30. We’re talking about a list chock-full of WNBA titans, and while Clark and Reese are electrifying, they’ve only played three WNBA seasons apiece. Plus, Clark’s 2025 campaign was cut short to just 13 games because of some soft tissue injuries, which definitely didn’t help build up that resume.
Still, it’s not like they were completely ignored. Clark actually snagged spots on five of ESPN reporters’ 23 ballots, and Reese got named on four. So, the talent and the impact are clearly there, but the sheer volume of work just isn’t. Not yet, anyway.
Their WNBA Future Is About to Be Scarier Than Ever
Here’s the real kicker: this “snub,” if you even want to call it that, is just fuel for the fire. Reese is already making waves, nearing a WNBA title right now with the Dream deep in the Finals against the Golden State Valkyries. ESPN’s panel is absolutely taking notice, and you can bet every single reporter who left them off is watching every single move. These two, long seen as professional and personal rivals, are on an absolute collision course to be considered among the very best of their generation. There’s no doubt about it.
Think about this: when ESPN rolls out the next version of this list in 2036, celebrating the league’s 40th anniversary, what kind of resumes will Clark and Reese have? We’re talking a dozen seasons each, multiple Olympic Games, and who knows how many more WNBA Finals appearances. It stands to reason they’ll be on *many* more ballots, probably every single one. Their time is coming.
The WNBA Finals are still cooking, with Reese and the Dream battling it out. This list might be for the past 30 years, but it feels like a preview for the next 10. Clark and Reese are just getting started, and the WNBA is about to find out exactly what happens when you tell two future legends they need to wait their turn. Get ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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