WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes was removed from commentary for the Indiana Fever due to compromising criticism of Caitlin Clark, claims Stephen A. Smith

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes was removed from commentary for the Indiana Fever’s victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday night, claims Stephen A. Smith.

Swoopes’ alleged firing came after her previous outbursts of criticism of Clark. Smith claimed Bally Sports Southwest was concerned that she was not providing fair commentary on the game.

Ron Thulin and Nancy Lieberman provided commentary for the network. They appeared on Smith’s show this week after the Fever’s victory over the Wings.

Lieberman confirmed Smith’s theory about Swoope’s alleged firing, saying that network producers would not want obvious bias to creep into the broadcasts.

Smith has been a vocal supporter of Clark since her college days at Iowa, while Swoopes has been critical of the Indiana sensation but also claims she doesn’t dislike Clark or her game.

Caitlin Clark scored 28 points and led the Indiana Fever to victory over the Wings on Sunday

Sheryl Swoopes was supposed to be at the game but was reportedly removed

“What makes it even more stressful for someone like Sheryl Swoopes, who by the way was supposed to commentate on the game with all of you yesterday but didn’t, undoubtedly has something to do with her reluctance to talk at all about Caitlin Clark’s performance earlier in the week,” Smith began, referring to Clark’s career-high 31 points against the Chicago Sky.

“We are aware of this and we know television as well as I do. I know what producers do, I know what bosses do when they see their personal feelings, whatever they may be, coming into play and jeopardising their position as a professional,” Smith continued.

“Sheryl Swoopes is a winner, she was great and she’s a phenomenal basketball expert,” Smith added. “What she doesn’t realize is that when she doesn’t state the obvious, it’s automatically assumed that it’s something personal because we know that you know the game of basketball too well to ignore the things that she ignores when it comes to Caitlin Clark.”

Swoopes first came under fire for Clark in March, saying she was “not serious” because she was a 25-year-old player in her fifth year and took “about 40 shots a game.” Clark was 22 throughout her final season at Iowa.

Swoopes has since retracted these comments and apologized directly to Clark. But the damage was already done.

The Texas Tech legend was also criticized for not mentioning Clark when talking about Indiana’s best players in the past.