WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes responds to claims she was removed from booth for Indiana Fever game over her criticism of Caitlin Clark.
Sheryl Swoopes has responded to claims she was removed from commentating an Indiana Fever game over her criticism of Caitlin Clark – saying she was ‘never supposed to do that game anyway.’
Fans and media took note when Swoopes, who had been calling Dallas Wings games for Bally Sports Southwest, was not in the booth when the team took on the Fever on September 1.
And while many – including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith – claimed that Swoopes was taken off of the game, Swoopes said on Angel Reese’s podcast that her contract with Bally Sports was already up before the game.
‘I was contracted to do seven Dallas Wings games, so I was never supposed to do that game anyway. But because of everything else, [people] just kind of figured that because I didn’t do that game, well, they fired me, but really my contract was up … and that was it, it wasn’t a thing.’
Sheryl Swoopes poured cold water on the theory that she was removed from calling the Fever
Ron Thulin and Nancy Lieberman called the game for Bally Sports, and the latter appeared on Smith’s show afterwards.
Lieberman confirmed Smith’s theory for Swoopes alleged removal, saying television network producers would not want obvious bias slipping into broadcasts.
Swoopes’ apparent bias against Clark is well documented.
Swoopes first came under fire in regards to Clark back in March, for saying her NCAA D1 scoring record ‘wasn’t legitimate’ because she was a 25-year-old player in her fifth year and that she takes ‘about 40 shots a game’. Clark was 22 and in her fourth – not fifth – season at Iowa.
In August, Swoopes incredibly did not mention Clark when discussing the Fever’s strong form after the Olympics – a move which Smith slammed.
Clark had a brilliant rookie season and was ultimately voted Rookie of the Year this week
In the discussion, Swoopes mentioned the likes of Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell and Aaliyah Boston – but not Clark.
‘Respectfully, Sheryl Swoopes, do you have any idea how that makes you look? Do you have any idea how that serves to stain any kind of critique of Caitlin Clark?,’ Smith said on his eponymous show. ‘Because it gives fodder to those who believe she’s being hated and ostracized to some degree. Do you realize, Sheryl Swoopes, you’re insane to do that? Let me tell you why you’re insane to do that. Because, Sheryl Swoopes, you’re one of the greatest players ever in the history of basketball, that’s why.
He continued, ‘See, you won a championship in college at Texas Tech. You won three Olympic gold medals. You won four WNBA championships. You know basketball. You know basketball better than me; you know basketball [better] than any of the pundits. You know basketball better than most of the men that play basketball. There is no way in hell you just accidentally left Caitlin Clark’s name out of that soliloquy that you dropped about the Indiana Fever – stop it.
Earlier this month, Swoopes also said she did not believe Clark – the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year – has been ‘dominating’ the league.
Nonetheless, Rookie of the Year voters seemed to disagree and Clark will look to come back even stronger next year after her Fever lost in the first round of the playoffs.
