In today’s WNBA landscape, misinformation isn’t just a minor issue—it’s become a central theme, with Caitlin Clark often thrown into the spotlight. Almost every moment, whether hers or someone else’s, is twisted into a debate about Clark. When she made the cover of Time magazine, some argued the entire league should’ve been featured instead. When she broke a record, critics claimed it didn’t count because she’s older than many of her competitors. But recently, those same critics were exposed when a completely fake statline about Paige Bueckers went viral—and they fell for it.
The controversy blew up after a lopsided game between the Dallas Wings and the fictional “Toyota Antelopes,” where the Wings won 119-52. What got people buzzing, though, wasn’t the score—it was a viral post claiming Bueckers had an insane statline: 45 points on 15-of-20 shooting, with 16 assists and 15 rebounds. She was hailed as a rising star and labeled a “#demon,” and Caitlin Clark’s critics wasted no time using the fake numbers as ammo to take shots at her.
But the entire statline was made up.
A YouTuber named Micky Talks Hoops jumped into the chaos with a fact-checking video that called out the absurdity. He pointed out that the numbers were near-impossible—just eight points short of the all-time WNBA single-game scoring record and only a few assists and rebounds off other league records. Yet people believed it without question. “Community noted,” he said mockingly. “Fifty thousand likes later and no one even bothered to check.”
Most of the critics hadn’t even watched the game. They just saw a flashy headline and jumped on the anti-Clark bandwagon. Meanwhile, real fans of both Bueckers and the league saw through the hoax and called it out for what it was. The comment section on Micky’s video turned into a roast of the trolls, who suddenly disappeared once the truth came out.
Clark fans had reason to be frustrated. One summed it up by saying that the WNBA fanbase is too focused on tearing down Clark instead of lifting up rising stars. They pointed out how Clark is constantly compared to everyone—NCAA players, NBA stars, you name it. In a recent Fever game against the Dream, Clark hit a step-back three after a physical play, and critics accused her of being too aggressive. Ironically, these are the same voices that once said she needed to toughen up after being on the receiving end of rough play.
The backlash is starting to catch up to the loudest critics. Broadcasters who once mocked Clark, like Sheryl Swoopes and Cindy Brunson, are no longer calling games this season. Whether coincidence or not, it seems the league may be distancing itself from the negativity.
Meanwhile, Paige Bueckers did have a solid performance against the Antelopes—scoring 15 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and matching the team’s top assist total. It was a strong showing, especially compared to her 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist against the Aces. Yet instead of celebrating that, her moment was twisted into another attack on Clark.
Some fans pointed out how ridiculous the fake statline was—45 points on 15-of-20 shooting would mean Bueckers made all three-pointers, which clearly didn’t happen. Micky broke it down further: if those numbers were real, Bueckers would’ve nearly broken the league’s records for scoring, assists, and rebounds—all in one game—as a rookie.
One frustrated fan asked the obvious: “Why do people hate Caitlin Clark so much?” The truth is, Clark is shaking up the league. Her presence has brought more attention to the WNBA than ever before. Love her or not, she’s making an impact, and the league is thriving because of it. Every hater, every viral fake, just adds to her influence.