From Glory to Exile: Sheryl Swoopes’ Fall from WNBA Grace..
She had it all—a Hall of Fame career, a broadcast seat, and influence. Sheryl Swoopes, the trailblazing guard who won MVP, a championship, and Olympic gold in 1996, became the WNBA’s inaugural signee. Her legacy as a scoring dynamo and defensive force inspired generations. Post-retirement, she transitioned seamlessly into broadcasting, lending her sharp insights to ESPN, NBA TV, and WNBA gigs. Fans tuned in for her unfiltered takes, her voice a staple in women’s hoops coverage.
But one name changed everything: Caitlin Clark.
The Iowa phenom’s 2024 rookie season exploded the league’s visibility, shattering viewership records with her logo threes, no-look passes, and 19.2 points per game—plus rookie records in scoring and assists. Clark wasn’t just playing; she was redefining the WNBA, drawing sold-out arenas and a new fanbase. Yet Swoopes, from her perch on podcasts like *Gil’s Arena*, dismissed it all. “She’s not dominating,” Swoopes scoffed in September 2024, despite Clark’s top-5 MVP finish. Worse, she peddled unsubstantiated rumors: Fever teammates allegedly wanted out because of Clark’s presence, even claiming Kelsey Mitchell’s free agency stemmed from locker-room drama. No evidence—just venom.
The backlash was swift. Nancy Lieberman, a fellow legend, confronted Swoopes privately: “You can have your opinion, but get the stats right.” Their friendship fractured; Lieberman replaced her on broadcasts. Clark’s supporters, dubbed “Clarkies,” flooded social media, branding Swoopes a hater. Whispers of bias swirled—racial undertones, jealousy over Clark’s white-hot stardom eclipsing Black pioneers. Swoopes’ past resurfaced too: her 2015 firing from Loyola University for alleged player abuse, where 10 of 12 athletes fled the program amid toxicity claims.
By early 2025, the axe fell. The Dallas Wings, citing a fulfilled seven-game contract, omitted her from lineups. But it didn’t stop there. In April, amid revamped broadcast rosters, Swoopes was scrubbed from *all* WNBA TV duties for the season—not just Fever games, but league-wide. ESPN+ and FanDuel Sports Network confirmed: no Swoopes. YouTube channels buzzed with “official firing” headlines, tying it directly to her “Caitlin Clark lies.” Even on Angel Reese’s podcast, Swoopes deflected, insisting it was contractual, but the timing screamed otherwise.
Swoopes retains a lifeline with Athletes Unlimited broadcasts, but her WNBA exile stings. At 53, the icon who once embodied empowerment now embodies cautionary tale. Clark, meanwhile, thrives—TIME’s 2024 Athlete of the Year, propelling the Fever toward playoffs. The league’s message? Evolve or evaporate. In women’s basketball’s golden era, gatekeeping has no court.
