A Tale of Two Records: Lynette Woodard’s Controversial Remarks About Caitlin Clark’s Scoring Record Take a Surprising Turn”
After surpassing previous point leaders in multiple divisions to become the highest scorer in college hoops, Caitlin Clark’s name is all over the basketball record books. However, Lynette Woodard, the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) large-school leading scorer with 3,649 career points, denied that Clark had broken the record she set while playing for Kansas 1978–1981, then later backed off of her remarks.
“My record was hidden from everyone for 43 years. … 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,” Woodard said at the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association convention in Cleveland on Saturday. “Unless you come with a men’s basketball and a 2-point shot, hey, you know.”
“You can help me spread that word,” Woodard added.
Following South Carolina’s victory over Clark and Iowa in the national championship game on Sunday, Woodard posted a statement on social media that read, “Caitlin holds the scoring record.”
“To clarify my remarks made at an awards ceremony on Saturday, no one respects Caitlin Clark’s accomplishments more than I do. This is why I accepted Iowa’s invitation to participate in Caitlin’s senior day,” Woodard wrote in her statement Sunday. “My message was: A lot has changed, on and off the court, which makes it difficult to compare statistical accomplishments from different eras. Each is a snapshot in time.”
Before the 3-point line was introduced, Woodard set the AIAW record.However, because Woodard competed before women’s athletics were officially admitted by the NCAA in 1982, her score mark is not recognized in the organization’s record books. Before 1982, and beginning in the late 1960s, female athletes competed in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), a distinct organization that oversaw championships in 19 different women’s sports.
On February 28, Clark overtook Woodard with her 3,650th career point in a game against Minnesota. Following the game, Woodard’s AIAW record was deemed to be “the real one” by Hawkeyes coach Lisa Bluder, while Clark referred to Woodard as “one of the greatest of all time.”
At Kansas, Woodard was a four-time All-American and became the first woman to have her jersey retired. She’s a member of both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
On March 3, Iowa welcomed Woodard to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to celebrate her career. The crowd erupted in a standing ovation as she was taken to center court.Meeting Woodard during her Hawkeyes visit, according to Bluder, “was a wonderful privilege.”
“She was my role model growing up, one of them. Unbelievable player. The first female Harlem Globetrotter, a couple of Olympics. I mean, she is special,” Bluder said. “And she is so graceful. And to have the opportunity to have her come in the locker room and to introduce her to the Hawkeyes was really meaningful.”
In the first media break, Iowa introduces Kansas standout Lynette Woodard to an ovation. Iowa made a classy move. Woodard held the AIWA scoring mark prior to the NCAA’s inclusion of women’s basketball. ugFAbAdstF; pic.twitter.com
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) March 3, 2024
On March 3, Clark achieved her milestone of 3,668 points, surpassing Pete Maravich’s record for the most points in Division I history, regardless of gender.
On March 3, Clark achieved her milestone of 3,668 points, surpassing Pete Maravich’s record for the most points in Division I history, regardless of gender.
(Photo: Matthew Holst / Getty Images)