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Caitlin Clark Request Emerges Before WNBA Season
Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Caitlin Clark Request Emerges Before WNBA Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Mohammad Asif Ansari  |  Last updated Mar 24, 2026 9:51 AM ET

The magnetic presence of Caitlin Elizabeth Clark now defines the record books of women’s basketball royalty. Legends like Diana Taurasi and Cheryl Miller previously charmed with their playmaking, but now stardom centers on the Indian Fever star's name, which stands above the rest.

Former Iowa Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark finished her collegiate career with 3,951 points, surpassing all previous records. Although history is vast, the Associated Press now revealed its high-profile campaign on Sunday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the AP women's basketball Top 25 poll.

Hoops fans will now participate in crowning the top player of the half-century era. Already, it seems that Clark, the all-time leading scorer, is carrying her absolute cinema performance into this prestigious honor.

As fans point out on this AP post, Clark does not merely move the needle; she is the needle, as ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike said in January.

Fans on social media are expressing and arguing that Clark's influence makes her the greatest player of the poll era, like:

“Got to be CC,” another fan straightly commented.

“CC22 by a mile,” one declared.

The league's 30th anniversary season is scheduled to launch on Friday, May 8, with Fever stars Clark and Aliyah Boston hyping up the franchise through a 44-game regular season. Fever fans should watch for the May 9 road trip against Dallas at 2 p.m. Other crucial matchups on the schedule include games on Aug. 14 and Aug. 20.

This firepower will be on display during the Top 25 Fan Poll Experience at Arizona State University, scheduled for April 2 through April 5. It will act as a lead-up to the national championship at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. The venue received its name in October after a 115 million dollar, 10-year deal.

While three-time WNBA champion Taurasi brought home three consecutive national championships for UConn, and two-time NCAA champion Miller is a legend with 3,018 career points, the fan vote will decide who is the star of the show.

Arizona State University Athletics Director Graham Rossini said the school feels proud to put the region on a global stage:

"As the host institution, Arizona State University is proud to put Phoenix and the Valley on a global stage," Rossini said.

As the official host, the university will welcome fans for the national semifinal games on April 3 and the national championship on April 5. This event is a time to honor the elite players who have etched their names into the standings of history.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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