The Sheryl Swoopes and Caitlin Clark controversy had seemingly died down in recent months, only to come roaring back. Now, there’s a new party involved: Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
To refresh your memory, Swoopes has been taking heat since 2023 over her thoughts regarding Clark breaking her NCAA single tournament scoring record. It didn’t get any better in 2024 when Swoopes made inaccurate comments on a Gilbert Arenas podcast regarding Clark’s pursuit of Kelsey Plum’s NCAA scoring record.
Things got so out of hand over several weeks that fans made “Don’t Be A Sheryl” (and “Be a Sheryl”) shirts, voicing their opinions on the matter. Days later, Swoopes revealed that she apologized to Clark and said Clark’s decision to go to the WNBA was good for basketball.
That was seemingly the end of it, and despite the awkwardness of Swoopes interviewing Clark during a Dallas Wings preseason game, the two were amicable, and that was that — until it wasn’t. Swoopes’ recent comments about Clark and the Indiana Fever have ruffled feathers with fans, turning the whole saga back on.
Here’s everything we know about the Sheryl Swoopes-Caitlin Clark-Nancy Lieberman drama:
(Annie Rice/USA TODAY Network)
During an August episode of Swoopes’s podcast, Swoopes and her co-host Jordan Robinson discussed how the Olympic break helped the Fever. As the conversation continued, Swoopes did not mention Clark in the list of players she named as reasons why the Fever were playing so well.
That enraged Fever and Clark fans — who were already miffed over Swoopes’s comments during another podcast episode in July. (On the episode, Swoopes made the claim that the Fever would be in the playoffs without Clark because of the stars they have on the roster. But, according to Robinson, many missed the full context of the conversation and the moment Swoopes went on to praise Clark.)
Swoopes’ perceived lack of acknowledgment got the attention of Stephen A. Smith, who traded jabs with Swoopes over her assessment.
You talk about whomever and whatever you want to on your podcast. Correct? So why can't I? Also, did you listen to the ENTIRE episode? NOPE! I have a personal relationship with these players and they deserve recognition as well. https://t.co/bRmORD7JaY
— Sheryl Swoopes (@airswoopes22) August 23, 2024
(Image courtesy of NBA TV)
Things got worse when fans noticed that Swoopes did not say anything about Clark during an Aces-Wings broadcast when she and Napheesa Collier were recognized as Players of the Week. (It’s worth noting that Collier was also not recognized by Swoopes.)
Chatter immediately began gaining traction in hoops circles. Days later, when the Wings played the Fever, Swoopes was not on the broadcast team and was replaced by her colleague, Nancy Lieberman.
(Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
Lieberman was on the call as the Fever and Wings played a back-and-forth thriller on September 1. During the game, Lieberman took a moment to share her thoughts about critics of Clark. Here’s what she said:
“When I walked in before the game, there were hundreds of fans lined up. What Caitlin Clark has done for the game is generational, and as a baller to a baller, I just want to say thank you to you … for lifting our game up, you and so many great players.”
“You are going to make all these women multi-millionaires one day — like Tiger did, like Michael Jordan did. We shouldn’t hate on her. We should celebrate her, not tolerate her.”
Lieberman was lauded for praising Clark, but many fans wondered why Swoopes wasn’t there. Swoopes shared that she wasn’t supposed to be.
Despite saying in February that she wouldn’t share what she said to Clark when she apologized, Swoopes reversed course and shared screenshots from their conversation.
It’s unclear why Swoopes revealed the messages. Still, it’s worth noting that Swoopes posted the messages, calling attention to “nice” fans after she received numerous NSFW messages and mentions on social media over Clark.
Was having a convo with two Caitlin fans(actually nice ones) and sent this to them regarding me reaching out to CC back in February. https://t.co/6Kqi3dlHg4
— Sheryl Swoopes (@airswoopes22) September 2, 2024
(Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics)
The drama between Lieberman and Swoopes continues to boil over and has now circled back to Smith, who had already had beef with Swoopes. Smith invited Lieberman on his podcast to share comments about Clark, Swoopes and other WNBA topics.
Of course, the Clark-Swoopes drama was front and center as Lieberman revealed that she and Swoopes have been at odds after a phone call earlier this year regarding Clark. Lieberman says that during that call, she told Swoopes she could have an opinion on Clark, but “you do have to get the statistics right — I mean, facts matter.”
Lieberman claims that Swoopes was upset with her for suggesting that she apologize and admit she made a mistake. Upon reflection, Lieberman told Smith, “My life’s going to be good or great with or without Sheryl Swoopes in my life — I’d rather have her in it…”
Swoopes claims that Lieberman’s version of events isn’t what happened and that she, too, would be fine without Lieberman.
Now here you go! I get what you trying to do wit ya boy @stephenasmith but it ain't working. You know good and well what happened. And ditto…my life is good without you too(and him). You wanna go there? https://t.co/puXmIfjy56
— Sheryl Swoopes (@airswoopes22) September 2, 2024
Swoopes later accused Smith of not talking about Lieberman’s previous comments suggesting that if she were Clark, she would have punched Chennedy Carter in the face over her hip-check foul.
However, it was discussed on the podcast, and Lieberman explained that she had a conversation with Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon about it. This is what she shared with Smith:
“I said Spoon, ‘I didn’t say she should punch Chennedy Carter in her face. I said this is what I would do if I were blindsided…’ But my comment about hitting her wasn’t about her. But we had this conversation, which we apparently cannot have with me and Sheryl Swoopes.”
“And I still think she was incorrect about what she did, and you know, we all have to be professional…but just do your job. Do your job. You get paid to do your job as a broadcaster. Do your job.”
“Nobody said you have to be in love with anybody else, but if you’re gonna do an Indiana-Wings game, you’re gonna have to talk about Caitlin Clark and her great teammates and what they’re doing…
