The WNBA media world is buzzing after a podcast slip-up sparked a firestorm of criticism aimed at The Athletic's Zena Keita. The host of the "No Offseason" podcast found herself in the crosshairs of Caitlin Clark's passionate fanbase after a recent episode, and she's now firing back with a defiant message: "I am not racist."
During the podcast, Keita appeared to credit Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles with setting the WNBA's rookie assists record. That honor, however, belongs squarely to Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark, who racked up 337 assists in her debut season. Miles, the No. 2 pick in the 2026 draft, has been impressive with 228 assists, but the record is not hers.
Clips of the moment spread like wildfire on X, with fans accusing Keita of deliberately trying to erase Clark's achievements. One account posted a side-by-side comparison of the stats with the caption, "WNBA media HATES Caitlin Clark so much they're giving her records to other players." The backlash was swift and intense, forcing Keita to address the controversy head-on.
Taking to X on Sunday, Keita explained that she simply misspoke. Her intention was to say that Miles had broken the Lynx franchise record for rookie assists, not the league-wide mark. She attributed the error to exhaustion, noting she had already recorded two podcasts before that session. In her post, she wrote: "Me having to log back into X to say…this was a simple misspeak. The stat was that she broke the LYNX rookie single assist record, not WNBA. I had done 2 podcasts before this one & simply misspoke. I am not racist, and I don't hate CC. You can think whatever else past that, idc."
This isn't the first time Clark has found herself at the center of media scrutiny. The Fever star previously called out reporters and analysts for what she perceives as unfair characterizations. In an interview with ESPN, she said, "I think there's just like a false characterization of who I am sometimes. And I get it, like as a reporter or as a blogger, you can write an opinion piece and that's your job and whatever, but at the same time, you don't know me. We've never had a conversation." She added, "I get people have a job to do, but at the same time, like don't make accusations about my characters and who I am when you don't know me."
The incident has reignited debates about how the WNBA media covers its biggest star. Some argue that Clark receives unfair treatment, while others believe mistakes happen and shouldn't be blown out of proportion. Keita's response, though, was firm and unapologetic, making it clear she won't be bullied into silence.
As the WNBA season heats up, this controversy adds another layer to the ongoing narrative surrounding Clark and her relationship with the press. For now, Keita stands by her clarification, and the conversation continues. Whether fans accept her explanation remains to be seen, but she's made her stance clear: she's not backing down.
For more on the ongoing dynamics between Clark and the media, check out David Dennis Jr.'s recent take and the fan reaction to the cameraman clash. The saga shows no signs of slowing down.
