Lynette Woodard, a renowned figure in women’s basketball, has recently stated that Caitlin Clark’s supposed breaking of her scoring record is not entirely valid, citing two factors that have been overlooked.

Shame on you": College hoops fans troll Lynette Woodard's clarifying statement on $3.3M NIL-valued Caitlin Clark's scoring record

Caitlin Clark and Lynette Woodard

Woodard, a Hall of Famer who competed for Kansas in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) from 1977 to 1981, amassed an impressive 3,649 points during her collegiate career. However, her achievement was somewhat obscured as the NCAA did not recognize her record, having assumed authority over women’s college basketball starting from the 1981-82 season.

Clark eclipsed Woodard’s record two weeks after surpassing Kelsey Plum’s 5,527 points, showcasing a remarkable 49-point performance against Michigan in mid-February. She then surpassed Pete Maravich’s tally of 3,667 points during Iowa’s regular-season finale against Ohio State.

In Sunday’s defeat to South Carolina, Clark’s collegiate total reached 3,951 points.

Woodard was present when Clark broke the record against Ohio State, yet she believes that Clark’s accomplishment does not hold the same weight as hers due to the differences in playing conditions. Woodard played with a men’s-sized basketball and in an era when there was no three-point line (established in 1987), while women’s basketballs were also made smaller in 1984.
“I’ll just go ahead and get the elephant out of the room: I don’t think my record has been broken because you can’t duplicate what you’re not duplicating,” she said at a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association convention on Saturday. “Unless you come with a men’s basketball and a 2-point shot, hey, you know.“

Lynette Woodward is correct in claiming that her record cannot be duplicated because of the factors she brought up.

But she’s since taken to social media to clarify her comments and reiterate that she’s a huge fan of Caitlin’s.
“My message was: a lot has changed, on and off the court, which makes it difficult to compare statistical accomplishments from different eras,” she wrote. “Each is a snapshot in time.

“Caitlin holds the scoring record. I salute her and will be cheering for her throughout the rest of her career.”

Woodard achieved All-American status four times during her tenure at Kansas, earning the prestigious Wade Trophy in 1981. She led the Olympic team to a gold medal victory in 1984 and made history as the inaugural female player for the Harlem Globetrotters the next year before transitioning to play overseas.

At the age of 64, she competed in the WNBA for a span of two years, notably participating in its inaugural season in 1997. Her illustrious career culminated in her induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.