‘Don’t say you called me to talk about that when you didn’t’: Sheryl Swoopes Questions Nancy Lieberman’s Integrity Over Caitlin Clark’s Remarks | HO

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith criticized WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes while he was talking to his guest, Swoopes’ fellow women’s basketball legend Nancy Lieberman, in his eponymous talk show. Swoopes was reportedly scheduled to do commentary on the Indiana Fever-Dallas Wings game last Sunday, but Bally Sports removed her from the panel due to their fear of her being biased against Caitlin Clark.

Smith raised Swoopes’ biases in his show with Lieberman backing them up. The Naismith Hall of Famer was chosen to fill in for Swoopes after she was pulled out of the broadcast. She also said her relationship with the former Houston Comet soured after she called her out for getting her facts wrong about Caitlin Clark earlier in the year.

At the time, Sheryl Swoopes claimed the Iowa Hawkeye standout took an extra college year to break the NCAAW scoring record, exaggerating her number of shot attempts per game. Lieberman then told Swoopes that she was entitled to her opinion on Clark, but she had to have the accurate stats.

Texas Tech alumna Sheryl Swoopes attends the Alumni Weekend at the Texas Tech game against Baylor, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, at United Supermarkets Arena.

While Lieberman alleged that that conversation caused a rift between them, Swoopes claimed that they never actually talked.

“Nancy Lieberman decided she was going to be upset that I said it was going to be an adjustment period for Caitlin, Angel, all the rookies … So she got upset that I said that. So she decided she was going to go to Twitter,” Sheryl Swoopes said.

“Don’t say you called me to talk about that when you didn’t. You posted that on Twitter. And then I responded to you, I text you and said, ‘Nancy, if you have something to say, call me, since we’re supposed to be, quote, friends,’” she added.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) runs up the court Tuesday, May 28, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Indiana Fever, 88-82.

How did the Sheryl Swoopes-Caitlin Clark controversy start?

Early last year, Sheryl Swoopes caught the eyes of basketball fans when she reacted to Caitlin Clark breaking her NCAA March Madness scoring record. According to Swoopes, The Hawkeyes had a first-round bye, so she was able to set the record in five games. She called Clark a “baller” for setting the record, however she pointed out that she broke the record in six games.

Then earlier this year, Swoopes guested on “Gil’s Arena,” causing controversy with her comments on Clark’s all-time scoring record. She claimed Clark went for another year with Iowa to break the record, citing that she was older than the other players. She also alleged that Clark took 40 shots a game, which was inaccurate.

Nancy Lieberman refuted Swoopes’ claim, saying Clark only spent four years in college and took less than 20 shots per game. She also told Swoopes to get her facts straight, which she feels was the cause of their fractured friendship.

After the fiasco, Sheryl Swoopes reportedly apologized to Caitlin Clark via a text message. Shortly after, however, she was back on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast to criticize Clark anew, even leaving her name out in the list of Fever players who have boosted the team’s performance past the Olympics.

With the Fever likely making it to the playoffs, many wonder if Sheryl Swoopes will ever join the broadcast team in games with Clark playing on the court.

Sheryl Swoopes speaks Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, during the Earl Lloyd Sports Legacy Symposium at FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis.

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