Sheryl Swoopes has responded to allegations that 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 faced the Fever on September 1.
And while many, including ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, claimed that Swoopes was removed from the game, Swoopes said on Angel Reese’s podcast that her contract with Bally Sports was already up before the game.
“They said, ‘Oh, Sheryl was replaced, they fired her, they kicked her out of the game because she’s Caitlin Clark and she can’t play that game,'” Swoopes began. unapologetic angel.
“I was booked to play in seven Dallas Wings games, so I was never supposed to play in that game anyway. But for everything else, (people) just realized that since I didn’t play that game, Well, they fired me, but really my contract was up… and that was it, it was nothing.’
Sheryl Swoopes poured cold water on the theory that she was removed from calling Fever
Swoopes has previously criticized Clark, who she said “didn’t dominate” the WNBA.
Ron Thulin and Nancy Lieberman called the game for Bally Sports, and the latter later appeared on Smith’s show.
Lieberman confirmed Smith’s theory about Swoopes’ supposed removal, saying that network television producers would not want obvious bias to leak into broadcasts.
Swoopes’ apparent bias against Clark is well documented.
Swoopes first came under fire regarding Clark in March, for saying her NCAA D1 scoring record was “not legitimate” because she was a 25-year-old player in her fifth year who takes “about 40 shots a game.” “. ‘. Clark was 22 years old and in his fourth, not fifth, season at Iowa.
In August, Swoopes incredibly failed to mention Clark when discussing the Fever’s good form following the Olympics, a move Smith criticized.
Clark had a brilliant rookie season and was finally named Rookie of the Year this week.
In the discussion, Swoopes mentioned people like Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell and Aaliyah Boston, but not Clark.
‘Respectfully, Sheryl Swoopes, do you have any idea what that makes you look like?’ Do you have any idea how that serves to smear any kind of criticism of Caitlin Clark?’ Smith said on her eponymous show. —Because it gives rise to those who believe that, to some extent, they hate her and ostracize her. Do you realize, Sheryl Swoopes, that you’re crazy for doing that? Let me tell you why you are crazy to do that. Because, Sheryl Swoopes, you’re one of the greatest players in basketball history, that’s why.
He continued: ‘Look, 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 experts. You know basketball better than most men who play basketball. There’s no way you accidentally left Caitlin Clark’s name out of that soliloquy you left about Indiana Fever: stop it.
Earlier this month, Swoopes also said she didn’t believe Clark, the WNBA Rookie of the Year, has been “dominating” the league.
However, Rookie of the Year voters seemed to disagree and Clark will look to come back even stronger next year after his Fever lost in the first round of the playoffs.
