Caitlin Clark made her debut in Indiana as a member of the Fever for the first time on Wednesday. The No. 1 draft pick met with general manager Lin Dunn and coach Christie Sides at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where she was welcomed by a crowd that exceeded any previous Fever coverage in recent memory.
The media present included Gregg Doyel, an award-winning columnist from The Indianapolis Star. During the Q&A session, Doyel made a heart gesture towards Clark, which she recognized as her post-game signal to her family. This gesture has become synonymous with Clark and was even featured in one of her State Farm commercials. Doyel jokingly suggested that she start doing it to him for good measure.
Reporter: 🫶
Caitlin Clark: “You like that?”
Reporter: “I like that you’re here.”
Caitlin: “Yeah, I do that at my family after every game.”
Reporter: “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”
Caitlin: 😳
(via @IndianaFever / YT)pic.twitter.com/BBjU881K7a
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 17, 2024
There was a swift and negative reaction to Doyel’s comments, with many agreeing that it was inappropriate and disrespectful to Clark. The backlash led Doyel to publicly express regret for his remarks, stating, “My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.” Doyel also penned a column in The Indianapolis Star apologizing to Clark for the interaction.
As Clark’s star rises in the WNBA, attention is also being drawn to the press corps covering women’s basketball. Reporters without experience in women’s sports are entering the scene to cover the Clark phenomenon, leading to some challenges as they familiarize themselves with the sport. However, this does not excuse any lack of sensitivity when dealing with WNBA athletes. Both the league and its teams will need to improve their credentialing process for reporters as interest in the game grows. The media itself must also uphold standards of respect and professionalism when engaging with players, which was lacking in this instance in Indianapolis.
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(Photo: Ron Hoskins / Getty Images)