After reporting on Caitlin Clark’s late scratch from a game, Scott Agness, a longtime Indiana basketball reporter and the creator and operator of Fieldhouse Files said the Fever revoked his media credentials. The team claimed it took away his media credentials due to “the spread of inaccurate and unsubstantiated information.”
The Indiana Fever, according to Agness, cited a tweet he wrote about Caitlin Clark being scratched from the lineup 100 minutes before the team played the Portland Fire on May 20. His tweet read, “Fever guard Caitlin Clark will NOT play tonight vs Portland Fire. I’m told it’s part of a strategic management plan for the season. Tonight is the Fever’s fourth game in eight days.”
“Fever PR briefly spoke with me before the game to ask about the tweet and state that they believed it was false. However, there was no meeting or further conversation before the decision to revoke my credentialed access was communicated to me,” he wrote on Fieldhouse Files.
Scott Agness also claimed that the Fever questioned a story he wrote about why Caitlin Clark wasn’t going to play that night.
“Given the intense attention surrounding the Fever and Clark — who went from not appearing on the injury report to being ruled out — I believed it was important to provide context rather than allow speculation and misinformation to fill the void,” he explained.
What exactly did he do wrong?
He also noted that the day after his report, according to a league source, the Indiana Fever received a warning from the WNBA regarding their injury reporting procedures.
After the game versus Portland, Fever coach Stephanie White told reporters that Caitlin Clark was healthy. “We’re not managing anything. This is just a back issue that we want to make sure we give the time to be ready.”
“Fever PR asked about the tweet [about the strategic management plan], and said it needed to be retracted because it was false. I said that while I understood her position, I have a trusted source and stand by my reporting. And that I would update the story to share whatever [Fever coach Stephanie] White said during her pregame availability,” Agness told Front Office Sports, while also noting that he updated his story to reflect her comments.
The Writers Association and numerous fans disagreed with the Fever’s decision
The Fever’s treatment of Scott Agness has raised the ire of both fans and the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) WNBA Chapter board.
“The PBWA objects in the strongest possible terms to any reporter losing access for the act of reporting,” the association said in a statement. “Any effort to prevent reporters from doing the work of informing the public reflects poorly on any team and league which attempts to do so, and runs contrary to the best interests of all involved, most of all the public.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t agree with the Fever’s decision AT ALL. You reported facts. I’m not sure what the issue is,” one reader commented on Agness’ report.
“Respect that you’re an independent journalist and do all this on your own. Just feels targeted,” read another comment.