The Athletic's WNBA podcast, No Offseason, is facing a wave of criticism after making a glaring factual error about Caitlin Clark's rookie records. The show, hosted by Zena Keita, incorrectly credited rookie Olivia Miles with the WNBA's all-time rookie assist record—a distinction that still belongs to Clark, the 2024 No. 1 overall pick.
The mistake didn't sit well with fans, who quickly called out the podcast for what they saw as a deliberate attempt to diminish Clark's accomplishments. Social media lit up with accusations of intentional deception, with one fan writing, "This is intentional!! they're just trying to downplay Caitlin Clark even if they have to lie and give her records to others."
Another user echoed the sentiment, simply stating, "Lying on purpose." The backlash highlights the growing frustration among Clark's supporters, who feel her achievements are being unfairly minimized.
The controversy comes amid a season where Clark has been a lightning rod for both praise and criticism. She has already faced backlash over a shove on a cameraman, and her physical toll has been documented in photos showing battle scars from grueling matchups. Yet her on-court impact remains undeniable, as she continues to draw record crowds and elevate the league's profile.
Fans were quick to defend Clark's legacy, pointing out that her rookie assist record is just one of many milestones she has achieved. "WNBA history only four times as a player scored over 30 points and got in Tennessee other than Caitlin Clark who's done at six times in a short career," one fan noted, referencing her scoring exploits.
The podcast's error also reignited debates about the media's treatment of Clark. Some fans accused journalists of a pattern of misrepresentation, with one commenter saying, "It's sad because it's starting to look like all we do now is lie, lie bout stats what school we went to lie bout ur job, lie bout how much 💸 ‼️Can we be truthful bout anything damn it's SPORTS numbers should be easy, nope still find a way to lie 💯‼️"
Others predicted the podcast would play the victim after being exposed. "And now that you outed them for their lies, they will soon be posting that they are getting death threats and Indiana fans are the worst," one fan wrote. "All they need to do is go online and admit what they were claiming were lies! Take accountability and people will forgive them… lie then hide, then play the victim seems to be the standard operating procedure for these 'journalists'!"
The incident has also fueled broader conversations about Clark's transformative impact on the WNBA. One fan pointed out, "WNBA lost money really never turned the profit nobody was watching it on TV and nobody was going to the games until Caitlin Clark came along she's such a phenom in college having broken pistol Pete Maravich's all-time record for scoring fever lead the WNBA and road attendance!!" Her ability to fill arenas has been a game-changer, as evidenced by the passionate support from Fever fans even during controversies.
While No Offseason has yet to issue a correction or apology, the damage may already be done. For a league that thrives on accuracy and integrity, such a high-profile mistake—whether intentional or not—raises serious questions about journalistic standards. As one fan aptly put it, "Take accountability and people will forgive them." The ball is now in the podcast's court.
