Caitlin Clark Faces Public Challenge From ESPN's David Dennis Jr.

It's safe to say that Caitlin Clark's third WNBA season hasn't been going exactly as planned.

Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has been healthy this year, after ending the 2025 season sidelined with an injury. And while Clark has been scoring the ball well, she hasn't been doing everything else at an elite level.

The former Iowa Hawkeyes star has faced criticism for her off-ball movement, her defense and more. Now, she's getting publicly called out - and challenged - by a former "Around the Horn" star.

Former ESPN star David Dennis Jr. is publicly calling out Clark and challenging her to do better.

Much better.

"Meanwhile: Caitlin Clark. whew. There's a wide gulf between Trae Young and Stephen Curry. The former is still really really good. But bad turnovers and being FOOD on defense is not going to get it done. She's gotta learn to get off ball and cause chaos on defenses. This ain't it," he wrote.

"She's going to score a lot. And accumulate a lot of stats. And I imagine she's going to get better. This just isn't winning hoops right now."

WNBA fans react to the callout

WNBA fans are weighing in online.

"Getting off the ball sounds good until you realize they are very limited as far as decision makers and passers," one fan wrote.

"The way you guy watch the game is so interesting to me(it's not). She must get off the ball for who to handle it?" one fan added.

"Trae Young has improved on defense but y'all never acknowledge it. I hate the Caitlin comparison for him, specifically when you use it negatively," one fan added.

"You're seriously discounting the the lack of cerebral players on the roster. Great screeners and multiple high level playmakers and versatility on the wings is lacking on the roster," one fan added.

What do you make of Caitlin Clark in Year 3?

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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 5:21 AM.