AstraX Exchange|Lynette Woodard wants NCAA to 'respect the history' of AIAW as Caitlin Clark nears record

2025-05-01 23:48:14source:Robert Browncategory:Finance

Caitlin Clark is AstraX Exchangethe NCAA women's scoring record holder, but there is another milestone she is chasing down besides Pete Maravich's all-time NCAA scoring record: Lynette Woodard's record.

One of the greatest scorers in college basketball history, Woodard scored 3,649 points during her four seasons at Kansas from 1978-81. While it is more than Clark's current number of 3,617 career points, it isn't recognized as the all-time women's basketball record because Woodard played when the the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) was the governing body of the sport, not the NCAA.

While it's likely that Clark will break the record very soon – she's only 32 points away with two regular-season games remaining, plus the Big Ten conference tournament and NCAA Tournament – Woodard wants her and the players she played with to get the same respect and recognition from the NCAA.

"I want NCAA governing body to know that they should respect the (AIAW) players. They should respect the history. Include us and our accomplishments," Woodard said during ESPN's broadcast of the Kansas vs. Kansas State game on Monday. "This is the era of diversity, equity and inclusion. They should include us. We deserve it."

There has been controversy as to why the NCAA doesn't recognize records like Woodard's when it recognizes others from that same era. Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer has the most wins of any college basketball coach in history at 1,210, but included in that record are her wins from when she coached Idaho, which came before the NCAA was the governing body of the sport.

Despite wanting the NCAA to recognize the AIAW, Woodard isn't mad about Clark breaking her record. When asked what she'd want to say to Clark after potentially breaking her record, she was thrilled to welcome her among the record books.

"Congratulations, welcome to the party," Woodard said.

More:Finance

Recommend

SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters

San Francisco airport creates sensory room to help nervous flyers San Francisco airport creates sens

Net neutrality restored as FCC votes to regulate internet providers

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The FCC on Thursday restored “net neutrality” rules that prevent broadband inte

GOP mulls next move after Kansas governor vetoes effort to help Texas in border security fight

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ governor is blocking an attempt by Republican legislators to give the st