Caitlin Clark passes Lynette Woodard's AIAW all-time scoring record
The NCAA women’s basketball all-time scoring record has changed hands many times. Lorri Bauman (Drake) in 1984, Patricia Hoskins (MVSU) in 1989, Jackie Stiles (Missouri State) in 2001, Kelsey Plum (Washington) in 2017, and most recently Caitlin Clark in 2024. However, before all of them was Kansas guard Lynette Woodard back in the AIAW days, when the NCAA did not have a sanctioned women’s basketball tournament.
Over her four-year career with the Jayhawks, Woodard averaged 26.0 points per game and accumulated 3,649 total points. That record was never recognized by the NCAA, but stood atop the leaderboard until tonight. In the Hawkeyes 108-60 win over Minnesota this evening, Caitlin Clark put up 33 points and surpassed the scoring total set by Woodard from 1978-81.
Clark came into the game needing exactly 33 points to pass the pre-NCAA record and got off to a hot start, scoring the first 15 points of the game for the Hawkeyes. Then in the fourth quarter, Caitlin knocked down an open three-pointer from the right wing to break the record. She finished the game with a triple-double 33 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
During Sunday’s Kansas-Kansas State game on ESPN2, Woodard shared her thoughts on the NCAA not recognizing AIAW records saying, “I want the NCAA governing body to know that they should respect the (AIAW) players, respect the history. Include us and our accomplishments…This is the era of diversity, equity and inclusion. They should include us. We deserve it.”
When asked what she would say to Caitlin about breaking her record, Wood said, “Hey, congratulations. Welcome to the party.”
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A Wichita, Kansas native, Woodard was the first Kansas University woman to be honored by having her jersey retired. She became the first woman ever to play with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1985 and played two seasons in the WNBA with the Cleveland Rockers (1997) and Detroit Shock (1998). Woodard was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.
Head Coach Lisa Bluder was asked about recognizing AIAW records back on February 15th when Caitlin Clark passed Kelsey Plum for the NCAA all-time scoring record.
“I’m very aware that Lynette Woodard has the record for women’s basketball, pre-NCAA and that wa before the three-point shot. I’m very aware of that and I would love to see (Caitlin) get it,” said Bluder. “I haven’t really thought about it, but that’s a really valid point. We played basketball before the NCAA, so I don’t know why we have NCAA (only) records.”
