“You Don’t Have To Keep Passing Up Layups”: Caitlin Clark Has Assists Race Dragged Into Alyssa Thomas Stat-Padding Controversy

Caitlin Clark is currently averaging an impressive 8.4 assists per game this season, ranking among the highest in the league. However, she has not yet claimed the top spot for assists, as Alyssa Thomas leads the race. The controversy arose after Thomas passed the ball to Maddy Westbeld during a Phoenix game when she could have taken the shot herself.

The highlight quickly went viral, with many accusing Thomas of "stat-padding" to maintain her lead in assists over Clark. Even Maurice, a podcaster, commented on Thomas' behavior, stating that she should allow assists to come naturally rather than attempting to outdo Clark. This "assist race" has drawn attention not just to Clark, but also to other potential candidates like A'ja Wilson, Olivia Miles, and even Kelsey Mitchell, who plays alongside Clark.

The situation has also led to some confusion among reporters. For instance, Zena Keita recently mixed up Caitlin Clark's rookie assist record with that of Olivia Miles, causing backlash from Clark fans who pointed out that Clark already holds the record. The incident was later clarified by the reporter who had made the mistake, who explicitly stated that she was referring to Miles breaking the rookie record for the Minnesota franchise specifically, and not expressing any hatred towards Clark.