Getty Image / Sarah Stier
After her legendary career at the University of Iowa, Caitlin Clark is now a member of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, as they made her the first-overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft Monday night.
Wednesday was Clark’s introductory press conference with the local Indianapolis media. And, longtime area journalist Gregg Doyel made things incredibly awkward.
Reporter: 🫶
Caitlin Clark: "You like that?"
Reporter: "I like that you're here."
Caitlin: "Yeah, I do that at my family after every game.”
Reporter: "Start doing it to me and we'll get along just fine."
Caitlin: 😳
(via @IndianaFever / YT)pic.twitter.com/BBjU881K7a
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 17, 2024
Why would Gregg Doyel, a mid-50’s man, allegedly ever make a heart with his hands towards a young woman? Then, add on the fact that he’s working in his professional capacity as a sports journalist, and it’s inexcusable behavior.
The entire exchange comes off really bad. Where was his question in there? What was his purpose in this stunt?
It’s surely not the start that the state’s biggest newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, wants with arguably the state’s highest-profile athlete. For many in the state, it’s further confirmation that Gregg Doyel is not very likable.
I see everyone is figuring out that Gregg Doyel absolutely stinks
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) April 17, 2024
Gregg Doyel pissed everyone off again?? Wow, who coulda seen THAT coming…
— George Basile (@BallAndPolicy) April 17, 2024
Doyel tried to clear up the situation via Twitter on Wednesday night
Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature 🫶. My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.
— Gregg Doyel (@GreggDoyelStar) April 17, 2024
I’m not sure anyone is buying that.
Surely, the rest of Caitlin Clark’s tenure as a member of the Indiana Fever will go much better. The guard left Iowa as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, with just under 4000 career points. The two-time National Player of the Year captivated audiences across America and took women’s basketball to new heights.
Seemingly every game she played in the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament set new viewership records, with Iowa’s loss in the finals to South Carolina being watched by just under 19 million people.
The WNBA Draft set viewership records on Monday night, increasing by over 300% from last year. And, her jersey has already sold out, with new orders not expected to be delivered until August.
Nearly all of Clark’s games are going to be on national television, and this is a generational opportunity for the WNBA to quickly grow in popularity. Hopefully that growth in popularity means that they can cut off access to people like Gregg Doyel from doing stunts at press conferences like this.