‘Indianapolis Star’ Reporter Gregg Doyel Suspended After Uncomfortable Questioning Of Caitlin Clark

Gregg Doyel, a sports reporter from the Indianapolis Star, has been met with consequences from the news outlet and its owners, Gannett, after an uncomfortable incident with basketball prodigy Caitlin Clark. 

The disciplinary action comes after the Indiana Fever picked Clark as the number one in the WNBA draft and embarked on their new season.

Former Star reporter Bob Kravitz revealed that Doyel had been suspended for two weeks after his exchange with Clark at her introductory press conference with the Indiana Fever on April 17.

As per Kravitz’s report, Doyel will continue contributing columns on the Fever throughout the season. However, he will not attend any team’s games or post-game press conferences alongside players. Instead, Doyel will watch the games from the comfort of his own home.

The incident unfolded when Doyel made a heart-shaped gesture with his hands toward Clark at her press conference. This gesture was inspired by Clark’s habit of performing the same gesture with her family after every game she played for the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

In response to Doyel’s hand gesture, Clark asked, “You like that?” he replied, “I like that you’re here.” Clark clarified, “Yeah, I do that with my family after every game.” Doyel, in an attempt at humor, responded, “Start doing it to me, and we’ll get along just fine.”

While the other reporters in the room seemed to brush off the awkward exchange, the incident quickly gained traction on social media and sparked a wave of backlash.

“One of my female colleagues & sports media students, as well as sports journalists, is sharing that video of Gregg Doyel and Caitlin Clark with utter disgust,” one user on X. “We are rightfully furious and fed up. His credentials should be revoked and given to a journalist who respects women.”

Doyel addressed the criticism of X and labeled his behavior “uniquely oafish” and his comments “clumsy and awkward” before “sincerely” apologizing and a promise to “do better” as he covers the team.

Later that day, Doyel released a subsequent column in which he extended his apology. 

“Caitlin Clark, I’m so sorry. Today, I was part of the problem,” he wrote in a post with the columnist’s link.

He continued, “What I’ve learned is that I need to be more aware about how I talk to people — not just athletes… You can say that’sthat’s absurd, that I should’veshould’ve known better, and I do. But here we are. I was just doing what I do, talking to another athlete, another person, and didn’t see the line — didn’t even know there was a line in the vicinity — until I crossed it.”

Kravitz revealed that the Star had intended to keep Doyel’s suspension under wraps. However, with the Indiana Pacers experiencing one of their most successful seasons in recent years and advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs, his absence has become more apparent than ever.

Doyel is expected to return to the Indianapolis Star on May 13.

Clark recently appeared on Saturday Night Light to roast Michael Che for his jokes mocking the WNBA.