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WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes 'was removed' from Indiana Fever commentary over compromising Caitlin Clark criticism, claims Stephen A. Smith
WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes was removed from calling the Indiana Fever's victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday night, claims Stephen A. Smith.
Swoopes' alleged removal comes after her previous bouts of criticism against Clark, with Smith claiming Bally Sports Southwest was concerned with her not calling the game evenly.
Calling the game for the network was Ron Thulin and Nancy Lieberman, who appeared on Smith's show this week after the Fever victory over the Wings.
Lieberman confirmed Smith's theory for Swoopes alleged removal, saying television network producers would not want obvious bias slipping into broadcasts.
Smith has been a vocal Clark supporter dating back to her college career at Iowa, while Swoopes has been critical of the Indiana sensation, but also claims she does not dislike her of her game.
Caitlin Clark scored 28 points to lead the Indiana Fever to victory on Sunday over the Wings
Sheryl Swoopes was supposed to be on the call for the game, but was allegedly removed
'What incriminates somebody like Sheryl Swoopes even more, who, by the way, was supposed to be calling the game with y'all yesterday, and she did not call the game, and no doubt, it had something to do with the fact that how Caitlin Clark had performed early in the week, she didn't wanna talk about it at all,' Smith started, referring to Clark's career-high 31-point performance against the Chicago Sky.
'So we recognize that, and we know on television the way that I do, I know what producers do, I know what bosses do when you see your personal feelings, whatever they may be, infiltrating the proceedings and compromising your position as a professional,' Smith continued.
'Sheryl Swoopes is a winner, she was great, and she's a phenomenal basketball mind,' Smith added. 'So what she's not realizing is that when she doesn't state the obvious, it's automatically going to be assumed that it's something personal because we know you know the game of basketball too well to ignore the kind of things that she's ignoring when it comes to Caitlin Clark.'
Swoopes first came under fire in regards to Clark back in March, for saying she 'wasn't legitimate' because she was a 25-year-old player in her fifth year and that she takes 'about 40 shots a game'. Clark was 22 for her entire final season at Iowa.
Swoopes has since walked those comments back and apologized to Clark directly. Yet, the damage was already done.
The Texas Tech legend was also criticized for not listing Clark when she has talked about Indiana's best players in the past.