WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes has been removed from all 2025 WNBA broadcast assignments, a decision that has stirred significant conversation within the basketball community. The move follows a series of contentious comments Swoopes made regarding Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.
During a February appearance on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, Swoopes inaccurately claimed that Clark had played five years at the University of Iowa, suggesting she benefited from an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In reality, Clark completed a standard four-year collegiate career. Swoopes later attributed her mistake to confusion over pandemic-related eligibility rules and issued a private apology to Clark.
The situation escalated when Swoopes was absent from the broadcast of a Fever-Wings game in September 2024. While some speculated that her removal was due to her prior comments about Clark, Swoopes clarified that her contract only covered seven games, which she had already fulfilled.
The controversy also impacted Swoopes’ relationship with fellow WNBA legend Nancy Lieberman. Lieberman publicly criticized Swoopes for her remarks about Clark, leading to a fallout between the two former friends.
As of now, the WNBA has not issued an official statement regarding Swoopes’ removal from broadcasting duties. The incident highlights the ongoing discussions about professionalism and accountability in sports media.
