Caitlin Clark was introduced to Indiana as a member of the Fever for the first time Wednesday, when the No. 1 draft pick joined general manager Lin Dunn and coach Christie Sides to meet the media at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The reception that awaits Clark has dwarfed any crowd that has covered the Fever as of late, as will be the case for most of her firsts in the WNBA.
Among the credentialed media in attendance was Gregg Doyel, an award-winning columnist for The Indianapolis Star. When it was his turn to ask Clark a question, Doyel made a heartfelt gesture with his hands in his direction, which Clark recognized as the signal. he gives to his family after every game. That gesture became associated with Clark and appeared in one of his State Farm commercials. When Clark made the association, Doyel responded, “Start doing it to me and we’ll get along.”
Journalist: 🫶
Caitlin Clark: “Do you like it?”
Reporter: “I like that you’re here.”
Caitlin: “Yeah, I do it with my family after every game.”
Reporter: “Start doing this to me and we’ll get along.”
Caitlin: 😳
(through @IndianaFever /YT)pic.twitter.com/BBjU881K7a
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 17, 2024
Reaction to Doyel’s comments was swift and unfavorable. There was near-universal agreement that what Doyel had said was inappropriate, disrespectful to Clark and generally uncomfortable. The uproar was so overwhelming that Doyel felt compelled to express remorse for his remarks, writing about, “My next comment was awkward and embarrassing. I sincerely apologize. Please know that my heart (literally and figuratively) meant well. “I’ll do better.”
Doyel too wrote an article in The Indianapolis Star apologizing to Clark for the interaction.
As Clark’s star moves to the WNBA, she is inadvertently shining a light on a press corps that has been somewhat sparse due to a relative lack of media investment in women’s basketball. As a result, journalists who have no experience covering women’s sports are parachuting in to be part of the Clark phenomenon, which will result in some growing pains as they learn about women’s basketball. But that doesn’t excuse a lack of tact when it comes to dealing with WNBA athletes. The league and its teams will need to develop a more robust system when it comes to accrediting journalists as interest in the game grows, but the media itself has a responsibility to treat players with respect and professionalism. That bar did not meet in Indianapolis on Wednesday.
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(Photo: Ron Hoskins/Getty Images)