ESPN “SportsCenter ” anchor Elle Duncan took a “BIG L.”
During Thursday’s installment of her “Elle Duncan Show,” Duncan said WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes seemed to be spreading “hate” about Caitlin Clark — while reacting to Swoopes’ recent remarks about the Fever rookie on her “Queens of the Court” podcast.
Duncan then issued a public apology to Swoopes a day later, explaining that she failed to listen to Swoopes’ comments in full before discussing them publicly on her show.
“I did the thing you aren’t supposed to do. I reacted to Sheryl Swoopes comments about Caitlin Clark based on quotes pulled for me by producers in the rundown,” Duncan wrote Friday on X. “I should have LISTENED to the show [Swoopes’ podcast].
“The same thing I IMPLORED CC fans to do when they were attacking me a couple months back 4 ‘hating’ on her. I HATE that I’ve sent more vitriol her direction and I’m taking this BIG L!
“I’ve texted Sheryl the same thing. I will do better! I am sorry.”
WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes. Instagram/Sheryl Swoopes
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots during the second half against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on July 17, 2024. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
When someone thanked her “for confirming that it was indeed the producers pushing these narratives,” Duncan refuted it and shouldered the blame.
“Nope not producers fault either. They are putting an entire show together and it is the responsibility of the TALENT to do their research,” she said. “This is on me for rushing.. for not taking my time and just REACTING. This is MY L.”
“This isn’t their fault,” Duncan wrote in another post. “The podcast rundown is basically a collection of notes — the research should have been on ME. It’s my voice I need to be responsible for what’s coming out of it.”
Elle Duncan talks about Sheryl Swoopes’ comments on Caitlin Clark during an episode of her “Elle Duncan Show” on August 1, 2024. X
During Thursday’s show, Duncan took issue with Swoopes’ comments about the WNBA Rookie of the Year race and how Clark and Sky star Angel Reese — who’s also in the running for ROTY — impact their respective teams’ playoff chances.
This was Swoopes’ quote that Duncan pulled up on her show: “I don’t know if Chicago is in the playoffs right now without Angel [Reese], right… Is Indiana in the playoffs right now, without Caitlin? … When you look at the overall team, like the pieces that they have, without question, Indiana has better players than Chicago from top to bottom. No doubt about it.”
It was a snippet of a larger conversation in which Swoopes and her co-host, Jordan Ligons Robinson, were explaining their picks for the WNBA’s ROTY.
Swoopes chose Reese and Robinson picked Clark, the No. 1 overall selection by the Fever in this year’s WNBA draft.
Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky and Sheryl Swoopes embrace after the game against the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on June 23, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images
Swoopes has long supported Reese before the Sky selected her with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
“I love her, but she’s wrong here,” Duncan said of Swoopes. “… She had some thoughts. She’s had some thoughts previously about Caitlin. She would later have to apologize [for] those thoughts being uninformed … just being a little bit inflammatory and critical without any actual analysis.
“She apologized for that during the women’s college season and she’s now stepped in it again by saying that ‘Indiana is in the playoffs right now without Caitlin Clark’ by saying that, like, [Fever forward] Katie Lou Samuelson’s really more integral in terms of two-way ability than Caitlin.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) brings the ball up court against the New York Liberty during the second half of a WNBA game at Wintrust Arena on July 13, 2024. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
“… I’m not really sure what is not connecting with Sheryl and why … This just doesn’t feel right at all and it is starting to feel a little bit like hate from Sheryl, who just in this particular space, stop.
“If the Fever, who won a handful of games last year, are in the playoffs this year, then you have to understand that a large part of that is Caitlin Clark and [Fever forward] Aliyah Boston.”
Swoopes never said Samuelson is a more valuable player than Clark.
She was also complimentary of Clark on several occasions.
“Caitlin, her passing, her assists — insane! Her ability to see the floor and get the ball where it needs to be — chef’s kiss — beautiful!” Swoopes said at one point.
