A new WNBA player ranking has revived one of the league’s most familiar arguments: should the “best players” list reward established resumes, current form, popularity, or future upside?
talkSPORT ranked the top 10 WNBA players entering the 2026 season and left Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese outside the list. That choice immediately stands out because both players are central to the league’s visibility. But the ranking also shows why basketball lists can be more complicated than fan attention alone.
What happened
talkSPORT published a ranking of the top 10 WNBA players in the world right now on 8 May 2026. The article placed A’ja Wilson at No. 1, followed by Napheesa Collier at No. 2 and Breanna Stewart at No. 3.
The rest of the list included Alyssa Thomas, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Sabrina Ionescu, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum and Kelsey Mitchell. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese did not make the top 10.
talkSPORT explained that Clark and Reese were left out largely because of team success, injury interruptions and a smaller sample size compared with more established stars. The article also said both players could play their way into the conversation as the 2026 season develops.
The ranking came as the WNBA began its 30th season. The league also expanded to 15 teams with the debut of the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, according to the WNBA’s official 2026 schedule release.
The bigger picture
The debate matters because Clark and Reese are not just players. They are major audience drivers. Clark in particular has changed attention levels around the WNBA since entering the league, while Reese remains one of the league’s most recognizable young personalities.
But player rankings are usually not popularity rankings. They often weigh production, efficiency, defense, playoff impact, health, availability and team success. Under that framework, talkSPORT’s decision to put Wilson first is easy to understand.
Wilson is coming off a historic 2025 season. The WNBA said she became the only player in league history to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Finals MVP and the scoring title in the same season. The WNBA also noted that she became the first player to win four MVP awards. The Associated Press named Wilson its 2025 Female Athlete of the Year after Las Vegas won a third championship in four seasons.
That level of resume creates a high bar for younger players. Clark can be one of the league’s most influential players and still be judged differently from Wilson, Stewart, Collier or Thomas if the ranking emphasizes sustained two-way production and postseason results.
Why this may be happening
The controversy comes from a gap between visibility and ranking criteria. Clark is one of the most watched players in basketball, but talkSPORT’s list appeared to prioritize proven WNBA dominance and team results over cultural impact.
There is also a health factor. CBS Sports ranked Clark No. 4 entering the 2026 season, but it also noted that her 2025 season was limited to 13 games because of lower-body injuries. That means different outlets can reach very different conclusions depending on whether they emphasize peak ability, recent availability or projected 2026 performance.
Angel Reese’s exclusion is easier to understand under a top-10 framework. She has strong star power and elite rebounding value, but she is still developing offensively and was not as universally placed near the league’s top tier in preseason rankings.
The timing also matters. Early-season rankings are partly predictions. As of 25 May, the official WNBA standings showed the Indiana Fever near the top of the league at 4-2, while the Las Vegas Aces were also 4-2. ESPN’s early 2026 stat table showed Clark among the league’s top scorers, behind Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson. Those early results could shift future rankings if they continue.
What it means
For Clark, being left out of one top-10 list does not mean she is outside the elite conversation. CBS Sports put her at No. 4, while other rankings and fan debates place her even higher. The disagreement shows how quickly her evaluation changes depending on health, team success and statistical emphasis.
For Wilson, the ranking reinforces her status as the league’s benchmark. Until another player matches her combination of scoring, defense, durability, awards and championship impact, most serious lists will start with her at or near No. 1.
For the WNBA, the debate is useful because it reflects growing depth. A league where Clark, Reese, Paige Bueckers and other high-profile names can be debated against Wilson, Stewart, Collier, Thomas and veteran guards is a league with real star layers.
For fans, the lesson is to read rankings as arguments, not final truth. A ranking tells readers what a writer values. Leaving Clark out signals one set of criteria; putting her in the top five signals another.
What is still unclear
- It is too early in the 2026 season to know how much the rankings will change by midseason.
- Clark’s final placement will depend on health, efficiency, Fever wins and postseason performance.
- Reese’s top-10 case may depend on offensive growth and Atlanta’s success after her move to the Dream.
- Collier’s ranking depends partly on recovery after ankle surgeries.
- Different outlets will continue to use different criteria, so there may never be one agreed WNBA top 10.
Final takeaway
talkSPORT’s WNBA top 10 list is not mainly a statement that Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese lack star power. It is a statement about criteria. The list favored established, high-impact players with longer WNBA resumes, stronger team results and proven playoff value.
The debate will not end with one article. If Clark stays healthy and keeps producing near the top of the league, future rankings will likely look different. For now, the discussion shows a healthy problem for the WNBA: it has more stars than a top-10 list can comfortably hold.
Sources / references
- talkSPORT: Top 10 WNBA players in the world right now — No room for Caitlin Clark as Angel Reese also takes hit.
- CBS Sports: 2026 WNBA Player Rankings: How A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, more stack up entering league’s 30th season.
- WNBA: 2026 regular season schedule release and expansion-team context.
- WNBA: Las Vegas Aces re-sign A’ja Wilson, official honors summary.
- Associated Press: A’ja Wilson wins AP Female Athlete of the Year following historic fourth WNBA MVP.
- WNBA: 2026 standings page.
- ESPN: 2026 WNBA player stat leaders.
- Fox News / OutKick: ESPN ranking reaction and Clark at No. 10 context.
