- A reporter imitated Clark’s heart-shaped hand gesture to end games.
- Reaction to the exchange has called the reporter creepy and classless.
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Dave Portnoy joined fans and members of the media in reacting negatively toward a reporter whose comments led to an awkward interaction with Caitlin Clark at her introductory press conference in Indianapolis.
After being selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick in the WNBA Draft, the former Iowa star faced the Indianapolis media on Wednesday. During the press conference, Gregg Doyel of Indy Star Sports imitated Clark’s hands-with-heart gesture as the situation quickly turned embarrassing.
Following the incident, the head of Barstool Sports addressed X and urged the publication to take action.
“Caitlin Clark’s run on Indiana Fever begins with Gregg Doyel being the sexiest pervert at the introductory press conference,” Portnoy wrote with a link to Barstool’s story about the exchange. “@IndyStarSports do something with this pervert.”
‘To clarify, I meant to call Gregg Doyle a sexist pervert. Which is based on his nauseating actions today,” Portnoy wrote in a repost of his tweet.
Dave Portnoy called Gregg Doyel a ‘sexist pervert’ after Caitlin Clark’s press conference
Clark seemed surprised by the exchange with a reporter during her first news conference in Indiana.
The Fever star endured an awkward exchange with Doyel after he imitated the celebratory heart-shaped hand gesture Clark gives his family after every game.
‘I like that you are here. I like that you’re here,” Doyel said, to which Clark responded, “I do that with my family after every game.” Doyel went on to say, ‘Okay. Well, listen, start doing it to me and we’ll get along great,'” before asking your question.
Later on Wednesday, Doyel apologized for his actions after clips of their exchange went viral.
“Today, in my uniquely clumsy way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed her signature with my hands,” he said. wrote in X.
‘My subsequent comment was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know that my heart (literally and figuratively) meant well. I will do it better.’
The gesture Clark makes at the end of games is seen here, with the former Iowa star smiling
Clark was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Clark, taken aback by the reporter’s gesture and trying to make a good first impression with her new team, was friendly but clearly not amused and said, ‘Do you like that?’ her upon seeing her gesture.
Clark didn’t know what to make of the final comment with a shocked expression on his face and continued with the press conference.
Doyel has been criticized online for the interaction, with some calling for Fever to revoke his credentials during the exchange.
The interest in Clark has given the Fever a chance to completely change the trajectory of their franchise, similar to how LeBron James elevated the Cleveland Cavaliers during his two seasons with the team.
And while the Fever wanted Clark’s message of helping the team return to the postseason to be the lasting message, his exchange with Doyel could unfortunately prevail.