Caitlin Clark made history during the Indiana Fever’s 93-86 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on September 4, recording a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. This achievement propelled her team to an 18-16 record and marked her second triple-double of the season, a feat no WNBA rookie had accomplished before. Despite this remarkable performance, Clark has found herself facing criticism similar to that of fellow rookie Angel Reese.
The controversy centers around how Clark secured her 10th rebound in the final seconds of the game. With less than 10 seconds left and the Fever comfortably ahead, Clark grabbed a defensive rebound, which completed her triple-double. Some fans took issue with this, accusing Clark of “stat-padding”—a term used when players appear to chase stats even when the game’s outcome is no longer in question.
One fan shared their disapproval on X (formerly Twitter): “I’ve criticized Angel Reese for stat-padding, so I have to call this out too. We need to eliminate this ‘garbage time’ stat-chasing from both men’s and women’s pro games.” Angel Reese, who has been accused of similar behavior during her record-setting run of 15 consecutive double-doubles, has faced ongoing scrutiny throughout the season.
However, not everyone agreed that Clark’s late-game rebound was an attempt to pad her stats. Some defended her play, noting that securing a defensive rebound in that context is part of the game. “The last rebound to get the triple-double may have been a bit fortunate, but you can’t stat-pad a defensive rebound if they miss the shot!” one fan commented.
The debate surrounding Clark’s performance highlights a broader conversation about stat-chasing in professional basketball, with opinions split on whether such plays diminish the significance of historical achievements.
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