Caitlin Clark’s true colors shone through after Sheryl Swoopes’ claim about teammates

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark had a lot of fun playing with her teammates last season, which silenced claims made by Sheryl Swoopes that there was tension in the locker room

Sheryl Swoopes was shut down by Caitlin Clark when her rookie WNBA season came to an end, after the women’s basketball legend claimed that members of the Indiana Fever roster no longer wanted to play there.

After Clark helped the Fever reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, which helped her win WNBA Rookie of the Year, Indiana lost in the first round to the Connecticut Sun. Despite being a rookie, Clark’s overwhelming popularity has led to her becoming the face of the WNBA, and Swoopes suggested that her teammates may no longer wish to be there as a result

Swoopes has been labeled as a ‘hater’ by Clark’s fans, even though she attempted to make peace and apologized before her rookie WNBA season began. Clark showed her class throughout the criticism, and her response to Swoopes’ claim also spoke volumes.

After the Fever lost to the Sun, Swoopes suggested that Clark’s popularity may irritate her teammates. “There’s a lot of other —- going on, that players are like ‘This ain’t where I want to be,’” Swoopes said on the ‘Gils Arena’ podcast. “You have players that are very significant on this Indiana Fever team that are like, ‘I don’t know if this is where I want to be.’”

Clark responded, stating that she shares a close relationship with the locker room and claimed that they’re excited to build on their success next season. “Obviously, tough one, especially because we climbed all the way back in and definitely had our opportunities late,” Clark said.

“Then a few different miscues and its back to a two position game, couldn’t quite get over the hump there. Like AB (Aaliyah Boston) said, it’s a good little taste of what’s possible for this organization and this franchise. There’s a lot for us to hold our heads high about.

“This team won five games two years ago, so we’re a young group, a pretty inexperienced group but we came together and had a lot of fun playing with one another. That’s sometimes the worst part of it. You feel like you’re really playing your best basketball then it has to end. But like I said, really proud of this group. Stayed resilient all year and had a lot of fun together.”

Clark admitted that getting to know her teammates was the highlight of her rookie season(Image: Getty Images)

Clark’s feelings towards her teammates were justified further when suggesting that her favorite moment from her rookie season was building relationships. “Oh gosh, honestly I feel like there’s been so much amazing moments but it’s the moments that none of you see that I enjoy the most,” Clark replied.

“It’s not the basketball, it’s the people that I get to spend it with. Whether it’s my family, whether it’s my teammates, that’s what’s been the most special for myself. I feel like those people are the people that know me best. Those are the people that I really care about.

“At the end of the day, basketball’s basketball. It is what it is. The people around me are what allow me to be really good at it, allow me to have a lot of fun, allow me to be myself.”

The Swoopes-Clark saga began prior to the 2024 WNBA Draft, as the basketball legend falsely claimed that the rookie spent five years chasing the NCAA points record in college, not four. Swoopes also said last season that Clark wasn’t “dominating” in the WNBA, but was silenced when the Fever star won ROTY.

Despite the claims of bad blood, Swoopes apologized to Clark for getting her facts wrong before the draft. “Hey Caitlin! I wanted to personally reach out to you and say I made a mistake on what year this is for you,” Swoopes sent in a message to Clark.

“I also have nothing but respect for you and your game and appreciate your skill. Congrats on everything you have accomplished thus far. Be blessed.”