Fans Slam Athletic Over Clark Stat Error

Caitlin Clark’s 2024 rookie season features historic benchmarks for the Fever, including 769 points and 337 assists, while Olivia Miles is emerging as a top rookie for the Lynx with a strong season but has not surpassed Clark’s record for assists. The Athletic analyst Zena Keita sparked controversy by claiming Miles set the all-time WNBA rookie assist record, a charge fans quickly disputed, prompting a public misstatement and later apology to clarify she meant Miles had set the Lynx rookie assist mark. Miles’ current rookie campaign remains impressive, but Clark’s 2024 totals still stand as the benchmark for rookie assists, with Miles recording 228 assists so far in 2026. Clark continued to pile up big numbers during the regular season finale before the World Cup break, posting 34 points, 12 assists, and multiple 30+ point/10+ assist games, underscoring her ongoing impact. The episode underscores the media’s role in shaping narratives around rookie records and the need to accurately verify statistics as Miles’ rising star power intersects with Clark’s established historic mark. Overall, both players are delivering historic rookie performances, while commentary around the numbers reflects ongoing debate and public scrutiny of WNBA stat history.