INDIANAPOLIS – The response to Caitlin Clark’s introductory news conference went sideways after national outlets picked up on an awkward comment from IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel.
Clark, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft, was introduced to Indiana Fever fans and local media Wednesday morning. It should’ve been a moment for the city’s latest sports superstar to shine.
Instead, it’s being overshadowed by an exchange between Clark and Doyel.
Doyel, assembled with other reporters for the press conference, made Clark’s signature heart gesture with his hands. It’s something Clark has done for a long time, directing it at her family.
“You like that?” Clark asked Doyel, who replied, “I like that you’re here.”
“I do that at my family after every game,” the basketball star explained.
Doyel replied, “Okay, well, start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.”
Doyel’s comment went viral. He became the focus of multiple news articles critical of his exchange with the WNBA's newest star.
HuffPost called it a "cringey exchange"; SBNation referred to it as a "creepy question"; Complex weighed in with "bizarre flirty remark"; Barstool Sports characterized Doyel as a "total creep"; and Sports Illustrated went with "awkward exchange."
Doyel, for his part, apologized as the controversy grew.
“Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature [gesture emoji]. My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better,” he wrote on social media Wednesday night.
Doyel followed up a few hours later.
“Caitlin Clark, I’m so sorry. Today I was part of the problem,” he wrote, including a link to a column elaborating on the situation.
Neither Clark nor the Fever had addressed the situation as of Thursday morning.