In a fiery on-air clash, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith erupted, accusing a colleague of letting jealousy taint their coverage of WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark. The drama unfolded during a heated segment of *First Take*, where Smith called out analyst Sheryl Swoopes for what he deemed “personal bias” against the Indiana Fever rookie. “You are DIRTY!” Smith thundered, slamming Swoopes for omitting Clark’s name while praising other Fever players on her podcast, *Queens of the Court*. The studio fell silent as Smith argued that Swoopes’ silence on Clark’s impact reeked of envy, undermining her basketball acumen.
The controversy stemmed from Swoopes’ absence as a commentator for a Fever-Dallas Wings game on September 1, 2024, where she was replaced by Nancy Lieberman. Smith suggested on *The Stephen A. Smith Show* that Swoopes’ removal was tied to her critical stance on Clark, who’s been a lightning rod for attention in her debut WNBA season. Swoopes fired back on X, accusing Smith of selective outrage and defending her right to speak freely. “You talk about whomever on your podcast. Why can’t I?” she posted, escalating the feud.
Hours later, reports surfaced that Swoopes was let go from her ESPN analyst role, though the network remained tight-lipped. Sources cited her repeated comments—downplaying Clark’s collegiate stats and impact—as crossing a line. Fans on X were divided, with some praising Smith for defending Clark, while others decried the firing as overblown. The saga highlights the intense scrutiny surrounding Clark, whose meteoric rise has sparked both admiration and resentment. As the WNBA playoffs loom, this drama underscores the high stakes of Clark’s spotlight.
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