4 WNBA players are considered bigger trash-talkers than Caitlin Clark

A viral interaction between Caitlin Clark and Jacy Sheldon last month reinforced Clark's reputation as one of the WNBA's most-talkative players.

In only one-and-a-half professional seasons, the 23-year-old Clark not only has emerged as one of the league's top guards; she is also an elite trash-talker, someone who could take the mantle of the legendary Diana Taurasi as the WNBA's foremost wind-up merchant.

However, Clark isn't there yet, according to an anonymous WNBA player poll conducted by The Athletic. Instead, the mantle has passed from one Phoenix Mercury player to another.

MORE: Fever's Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham among top WNBA trash talkers, but not voted No. 1

Upon Taurasi's retirement, it is Alyssa Thomas who now is regarded as the biggest trash-talker in The W. Among 33 respondents to The Athletic's poll, Thomas received the most votes with 13, followed by Minnesota's Courtney Williams (5), Connecticut's Marina Mabrey (4) and Seattle's Skylar Diggins (2).

Clark and Indiana Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham received one vote each.

“Everyone knows AT talks s—-," one player said of Thomas' trash-talking talent. "I don’t even guard her, and she talks s— to me.”

Alyssa Thomas being voted the league’s biggest trash talker by her peers totally tracks. I actually had Bria Hartley on my show recently, and she said the same thing. https://t.co/XAHPzddyPG pic.twitter.com/YbOAMFZZXJ

Thomas, 33, is a strong candidate to win her first MVP award this season. In her first with the Mercury, "The Engine" leads the WNBA in total assists (142) and assists per game (9.5). Her efforts have helped Phoenix to a 14-6 record, three games behind the Minnesota Lynx for the best mark in the league. 

“(Thomas) smiles and talks s—, that’s the crazy part," another respondent told The Athletic. "It’s psycho stuff, she’s crazy, man.”

So while Clark may have a burgeoning status as a trash-talker, it sounds like the two-time All-Star has to refine this particular skill in the years to come.

MORE WNBA NEWS: 

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• Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham delivers again, hits milestone mark

• Candace Parker’s assist record broken twice in one day by bizarre WNBA coincidence

• Fever's Caitlin Clark sets WNBA career record in just 52nd game

• Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark rookie stats: Comparing first seasons of WNBA No. 1 picks