Writer will not be covering Fever in person after Caitlin Clarke’s reaction

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Star sports columnist Greg Doyle, whose interaction with No. 1 WNBA draft pick Kaitlin Clark in her introductory news conference was criticized in the national media as inappropriate, will not cover the Indiana Fever in person this season.

Janet Lark spokesperson Marie Anton said in a statement that the Star’s owner does not comment on personnel matters but added: “Indianapolis Star sports columnist Greg Doyle will not cover Indiana Fever.”

Former sports writer Bob Kravitz, citing anonymous sources, I first reported the decision Also, Doyle has been suspended for two weeks, which Anton has not confirmed. Doyle’s last column appeared on April 29.

Doyle apologized for the interaction with Clark during a news conference in Indianapolis two days after the Fever selected the Iowa State star with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft. When it was Doyle’s turn to ask a question, he formed a heart shape with his hands toward Clark, who is known for making gestures toward family members in her games. This was followed by this exchange:

Clark: “Do you like this?”

Doyle: “I like that you’re here, I like that you’re here.”

Clark: “Yes, I do that for my family after every game, so… pretty cool.”

Doyle: “Okay, start doing that to me, and we’ll get along just fine.”

The interaction was heavily criticized as awkward at best and inappropriate and even creepy at worst. Doyle He apologized on social media And again in the column.

“In my rush to be smart, familiar, and welcoming (or so I thought), I insulted Caitlin and her family,” he wrote. “Having gone through the denial, and then the anger — am I on the wrong side of this? Am I??? — I now realize what I said and how I said it was wrong, wrong, wrong. I mean it was just wrong.”

Doyle did not immediately respond to an email request for comment on Wednesday. The Fever is expected to be one of the biggest draws during the WNBA season that begins next week.