Getty Image
The stat-padding accusations have now shifted towards Caitlin Clark this week.
In the past few months, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has been accused of stat-padding during her insane double-double streak.
On Wednesday, Clark faced some criticism online when she procured a triple-double with a late game rebound while the Fever were up 7 points vs the Sparks with 13 seconds left in the game.
TRIPLE-DOUBLE FOR CC!
With this rebound, Caitlin Clark records the 2nd triple-double of her career! Only rookie to ever do it and she does it twice 🔥#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/6v1k8Q0yMG
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 5, 2024
Clark would later admit that she knew she needed one more rebound to get the triple-double with 13 seconds left in the game.
“Of course I knew.”
Caitlin Clark was aware she was only one rebound away from a triple-double 😅 pic.twitter.com/etEbhgaT4W
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) September 5, 2024
Some fans believed Clark padded her stats with the rebound.
“I have to be fair. I’ve called out Angel Reese for late game stat-padding so I have to call this out. We must eliminate this Westbrookian garbage time stat-chasing nonsense from the pro game, mens & womens.” commented one fan.
“I suspect a lot of people who have been whiny about Angel Reese stat padding this year will be very happy about a garbage time rebound for their favorite player” said another fan.
Others have fired back at the criticism directed towards Clark.
How on earth was that stat padding? It was a close game with starters still in. Rebound literally bounced right to her. You think she should have purposely not grabbed it? 🙄
— Pam Peden Bond (@BondPam) September 5, 2024