Caitlin Clark led the Indiana Fever to a 100-93 victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday.
WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes was absent from the game, and Nancy Lieberman replaced Swoopes as commentator for the Wings.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Texas Tech University alumna Sheryl Swoopes attends Alumni Weekend at the Texas Tech vs. Baylor University game on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at United Supermarkets Arena. (image)
ESPN's Steven A. Smutty believes Swoopes was taken off the air because of her personal feelings about Clark.
“What makes someone like Sheryl Swoopes even more guilty, in my opinion — and this is just my opinion — is that, by the way, she was supposed to be doing the play-by-play with you guys yesterday and she didn't,” Smith said on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” recently.
“And it definitely had something to do with the fact that when Caitlin Clark performed earlier in the week, she didn't want to talk about it at all.”
Smith was referring to last week, when Clark had 31 points and 12 assists in the Fever's 100-81 win over Angel Reese's Chicago Sky.
“We are aware of it, we know it in TV as I do, we know what producers do, we know what bosses do when they find out about your personal feelings, whatever they may be, that intrude on proceedings and compromise your professional standing.”
WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes leaks screenshots of alleged text messages with Kaitlyn Clark: 'I made a mistake'
Sheryl Swoopes speaks at the Earl Lloyd Sports Legacy Symposium at the FedExForum in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. (image)
Bally Sports Southwest referred questions to Fox News Digital about Swoopes' absence from the broadcast, but the network did not comment. The Dallas Wings did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
During a February appearance on former NBA star Gilbert Arenas' podcast, “Gill's Arena,” Swoopes made inaccurate statements about Clark's college career and performance.
In discussing Clark breaking the NCAA basketball all-time scoring record as a senior in 2023, Swoopes said Clark took more than 40 shots per game during his five seasons at college.
In reality, Clark achieved this milestone after only four seasons and averaging just 22.7 shots per game.
Chicago Sky player throws Caitlin Clark to the floor, then posts online about the hateful comments she received
On Monday, Swoopes posted a text message of apology he sent to Clark following his Feb. 19 comments.
“Kaitlyn, I just wanted to reach out to you personally and let you know I mistook what year this was for you. COVID has been so confusing,” Swoopes wrote. “I have nothing but respect for you and your game and appreciate your skill. Congratulations on all you've accomplished so far. Best of luck.”
Other screenshots show Clark thanking Swoopes for reaching out and her commitment to the WNBA, saying he appreciated Clark and her play and told her to “keep up the great work.”
During an August episode of his podcast “Queens of the Court,” Swoopes didn't cite Clark as the reason for the Fever's recent success, instead praising only Aaliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Halle.
But Clark has been the team's leading scorer during the team's winning streak and is already one of the leading scorers in the WNBA.
Caitlin Clark breaks Fever franchise record, Indiana surpasses .500 with win
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (No. 22) carries the ball up the court during the first half of a game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena on August 30, 2024 in Chicago. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA Today Sports)
The Fever started the season 1-8 before going 16-8. Sunday's win put them over .500 for the first time all season, improving them to 17-16.
Smith responded to Swoopes' comments during the episode, saying it was “insane for a Hall of Famer to do something like that.”
“Do you know how that makes you look?”
Swoopes responded to X.
“On the podcast, we talk about anyone and anything, right? So why not me? And have you listened to every episode? No! I have a personal relationship with these players and they deserve to be recognized too.”
Smith said Swoopes' basketball acumen makes her disapproval or praise of Clark feel like a personal criticism.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Texas Tech University alumna Cheryl Swoopes watches the Texas Tech vs. Baylor University game at United Supermarkets Arena on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. (image)
“But in Sheryl Swoopes' case, and I'm not going to get into this, I think it's important to note that Sheryl Swoopes is a winner. She's a great athlete and she's a gifted basketball player.”
“What she doesn't realize is that if you don't say the obvious, it's automatically taken as personal because we know you know the game of basketball, the game of basketball, too well to ignore the sort of things that she's ignoring with regards to Caitlin Clark.”
The Fever's next game is on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday.
Fox News' Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
