The Sheryl Swoopes and Caitlin Clark saga, which seemed to have settled down in recent months, has been reignited, thanks in part to Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
To recap, Swoopes faced criticism in 2023 over her remarks about Clark surpassing her NCAA single-tournament scoring record. This controversy intensified in 2024 when Swoopes made inaccurate comments on a Gilbert Arenas podcast about Clark’s pursuit of Kelsey Plum’s NCAA scoring record. The situation escalated to the point where fans started creating “Don’t Be A Sheryl” and “Be a Sheryl” shirts to express their opinions. Swoopes eventually apologized to Clark and acknowledged that Clark’s decision to join the WNBA was beneficial for the sport.
Despite this resolution, recent comments from Swoopes regarding Clark and the Indiana Fever have reignited the debate.
Controversy Over Swoopes’ Remarks
In an August episode of Swoopes’s podcast, she and co-host Jordan Robinson discussed the impact of the Olympic break on the Fever’s performance. However, Swoopes did not mention Clark among the reasons for the team’s success, which upset Fever and Clark fans, already sensitive from Swoopes’s July podcast comments. In that episode, Swoopes suggested that the Fever could have made the playoffs without Clark due to their roster depth, though Robinson clarified that Swoopes later praised Clark.
The perceived slight caught the attention of Stephen A. Smith, who engaged in a heated exchange with Swoopes over her remarks.
You talk about whomever and whatever you want to on your podcast. Correct? So why can't I? Also, did you listen to the ENTIRE episode? NOPE! I have a personal relationship with these players and they deserve recognition as well. https://t.co/bRmORD7JaY
— Sheryl Swoopes (@airswoopes22) August 23, 2024
Broadcast Controversy
The situation worsened when fans noticed that Swoopes did not acknowledge Clark during a broadcast of the Aces-Wings game, where she and Napheesa Collier were recognized as Players of the Week. Collier was also not mentioned, but the omission of Clark fueled further discussion. Shortly after, when the Wings faced the Fever, Swoopes was replaced on the broadcast team by Nancy Lieberman.
Nancy Lieberman’s Support for Clark
Lieberman’s presence during the September 1 game provided a fresh perspective. She used the opportunity to commend Clark’s contributions to the WNBA. Lieberman expressed her admiration for Clark’s impact on the game and criticized the negativity directed at her. “What Caitlin Clark has done for the game is generational,” Lieberman said. “We shouldn’t hate on her; we should celebrate her.”
Lieberman’s praise was well-received, but it also raised questions about Swoopes’s absence from the broadcast. Swoopes clarified that her absence was not intentional.
Swoopes’ Apology and Further Drama
In a twist, Swoopes shared screenshots of her apology to Clark, reversing her earlier stance of keeping the details private. She posted the messages amid a surge of online backlash from fans, highlighting some positive interactions she had received.
Was having a convo with two Caitlin fans(actually nice ones) and sent this to them regarding me reaching out to CC back in February. https://t.co/6Kqi3dlHg4
— Sheryl Swoopes (@airswoopes22) September 2, 2024
Ongoing Disputes
The drama continued when Lieberman discussed the situation with Stephen A. Smith on his podcast. Lieberman revealed that she and Swoopes had clashed after a phone call earlier this year about Clark. Lieberman urged Swoopes to correct her statements and apologize, which led to tension between them. Swoopes contested Lieberman’s account, asserting that she could also thrive without Lieberman’s involvement.
The conversation also touched on previous comments Lieberman made about Chennedy Carter, which were misconstrued. Lieberman explained that her remarks were misunderstood and reiterated that broadcasters should focus on their professional duties.
Now here you go! I get what you trying to do wit ya boy @stephenasmith but it ain't working. You know good and well what happened. And ditto…my life is good without you too(and him). You wanna go there? https://t.co/puXmIfjy56
— Sheryl Swoopes (@airswoopes22) September 2, 2024
As the debate persists, it remains clear that the discourse surrounding Clark, Swoopes, and Lieberman continues to stir strong emotions and discussions within the basketball community.
