While Caitlin Clark surpassed the recognized NCAA women's scoring record of Kelsey Plum earlier this month, one college basketball legend wants the world to know that it's her scoring record — which the NCAA does not recognize — that should be considered the mark that Clark must beat.
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Lynette Woodard holds a college basketball scoring record that you've probably never heard about. Woodard is a basketball legend who played at the University of Kansas from 1978-81, won an Olympic gold medal for Team USA in 1984, became the first woman to ever play for the Harlem Globetrotters, and is an inductee in both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball hall of Fame.
Woodard scored 3,649 career points in college — 32 more than Caitlin Clark currently holds. Yet, Woodard's points record isn't officially recognized.
Why?
Because Woodard's Kansas days were during an era when women's basketball was sanctioned by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and not the NCAA. Therefore, the NCAA doesn't recognize Woodard's scoring record.
Woodard was part of an ESPN2 broadcast that covered the Kansas vs. Kansas State men's basketball game on Sunday, where she said, "I want the NCAA governing body to know that they should respect the [AIAW] players, respect the history. Include us and our accomplishments. This is the era of diversity, equity and inclusion. They should include us. We deserve it."
Woodard's sentiment is certainly fair. That's especially true considering that the NCAA recognizes Pete Maravich's all-time scoring record of of 3,667 points — despite Maravich playing in college a decade earlier (1967-70) than Woodard did.
Yet, the NCAA didn't officially recognize women's collegiate sports until 1981.
Woodard also wants to make it clear that her desire for recognition has nothing to do with Clark. During an interview with The Washington Post, Woodard said, "Caitlin is having a wonderful, sensational career, and when there is a high tide, all boats float. There are so many things she is making people aware of, and I think it's a great thing.
"But I just hope that if the call letters ever changed on 'NCAA,' her records might be blended," Woodard added.
As for the scoring record itself, Clark will almost certainly surpass Woodard's record in her next game — then also surpass Maravich's record one game later.
However, this isn't about the record. It's about recognition, and a long-overdue righting of a long-standing wrong.
The ball is in your court, NCAA.
