Sheryl Swoopes Responds to Nancy Lieberman in Caitlin Clark Controversy
A once-strong friendship between two of women’s basketball’s greatest icons, Nancy Lieberman and Sheryl Swoopes, appears to be on the brink of collapse following a heated exchange over rising star Caitlin Clark. The disagreement has escalated over the past 24 hours, with both legends publicly addressing the situation.
The rift began when Lieberman, in a recent appearance on Stephen A. Smith’s podcast, revealed that her relationship with Swoopes had deteriorated due to their differing opinions on Clark’s impact on the game. Lieberman bluntly stated, “My life is going to be good with or without Sheryl Swoopes,” underscoring the seriousness of the fallout.
Swoopes didn’t stay silent for long. Later that evening, she responded on social media, firing back with a pointed remark: “My life is good without you too (and him).” This comment further highlighted the growing tension between the two Hall of Famers.
The controversy stems from comments Swoopes made back in February on former NBA star Gilbert Arenas’ podcast. During the podcast, Swoopes downplayed Clark’s achievement of breaking the NCAA career scoring record, incorrectly stating that Clark had benefited from an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lieberman, acting as a friend, called Swoopes to point out the error, hoping to clear up the misinformation.
However, according to Lieberman, the conversation didn’t go as planned. “She got upset with me on the phone,” Lieberman told Smith. “And I was like, ‘Sheryl, I’m not doing anything to hurt you. I’m just sharing.’ And so our relationship pretty much is not happening at this point.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Lieberman criticized Swoopes for failing to mention Caitlin Clark on a recent episode of her own podcast, despite praising several other Indiana Fever players for their performances since the Olympic break.
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
Swoopes, however, pushed back against the notion that she harbors any ill feelings toward Clark. In a move to defend herself, she posted screenshots of a text exchange between herself and Clark from February on her X account (formerly Twitter). In the exchange, Swoopes acknowledged her mistake regarding Clark’s eligibility, saying, “I made a mistake on what this year is for you. Covid year has me all confused…Lol! I also have nothing but respect for you and your game.” Clark’s response was gracious, stating she had “no hard feelings” and expressing appreciation for what Swoopes had done for women’s basketball and for inspiring players like her.
Here you go! This is from February. pic.twitter.com/n7m9v4FPlE
— Sheryl Swoopes (@airswoopes22) September 2, 2024
The public nature of this dispute between Lieberman and Swoopes is unfortunate, especially given their significant contributions to the sport. While their friendship appears to be fractured, the broader conversation about Caitlin Clark’s impact on women’s basketball continues to grow, further cementing her as one of the game’s rising stars. Whether or not the relationship between Lieberman and Swoopes can be repaired remains to be seen, but their influence on the sport will undoubtedly continue to shape its future.