WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes recently sparked controversy on her podcast, “Queens of the Court,” where she discussed the Indiana Fever’s noticeable improvement without giving any credit to rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. Despite Clark’s stellar performances, which included 29 points and 10 assists in the Fever’s 98-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury and 23 points with nine assists in a 92-75 victory over the Seattle Storm, Swoopes opted to highlight the contributions of other players like Lexie Hull, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aliyah Boston.
Swoopes praised these players for their roles in the Fever’s back-to-back wins since the WNBA resumed after the 2024 Summer Olympics but conspicuously omitted any mention of Clark, who has been instrumental in the team’s rise. She emphasized that the team’s success would continue if Hull, Mitchell, and Boston maintained their current form, attributing the Fever’s improvement to these players’ performances.
“I think the Olympic break really helped Indiana,” Swoopes said on her podcast. “I’m going to shout out to Lexie Hull. I’m a big Lexie Hull fan. Lexie Hull shot the leather off the ball in their game against Seattle. Kelsey Mitchell is just stroking; she is just shooting the basketball. Aliyah Boston, almost a triple-double… If Indiana continues to play the way they’re playing, like this, they too are going to move up in the standings.”
So it looks like a podcast, promoted by the WNBA, and hosted by Sheryl Swoopes, has decided that when talking about the Indiana Fever coming out the break, WE WILL MENTION EVERYONE BUT CAITLIN CLARK NOW?!?
You MUST listen to this and POST COMMENTS BELOW!!! @WNBA @elleduncanESPN… pic.twitter.com/uuVG5BelG2
— Ken Swift (@kenswift) August 20, 2024
This apparent oversight by Swoopes did not sit well with WNBA fans, who were quick to express their displeasure on social media, labeling her analysis as “lazy” and accusing her of deliberately ignoring Clark’s contributions.
Fans were particularly irked because Clark is currently in contention for the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award, where she is battling Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese. Clark leads all rookies with 17.8 points and 8.3 assists per game, while Reese has been a force on the boards, averaging 13.6 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
With the Fever holding the No. 7 seed in the WNBA standings and on the brink of their first playoff appearance since 2016, many fans believe that Swoopes’ reluctance to acknowledge Clark’s role is unfair. Some went so far as to accuse Swoopes of being a “generational-level hater,” questioning her credibility after she failed to mention Clark’s recent rookie assist record.
Despite the criticism, Caitlin Clark remains focused on her game, continuing to lead the Fever as they push towards the playoffs. While Swoopes may have downplayed her impact, fans and analysts alike know that Clark’s presence has been a game-changer for Indiana, and her potential Rookie of the Year honors would be a fitting recognition of her outstanding first season in the WNBA.
