Sports Columnist Gregg Doyel to Miss Out on Covering the Indiana Fever Due to Controversial News Conference Interaction with Caitlin Clark

Gregg Doyel, a sports columnist for the Indianapolis Star, will not be covering the Indiana Fever in person this season after being criticized for his interaction with WNBA No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark during her introductory news conference. Lark-Marie Antón, a Gannett spokesperson, confirmed that Doyel will not be covering the Fever but did not comment on personnel matters.

During the news conference, Doyel made a heart shape with his hands towards Clark, who usually does this gesture towards her family after games. This led to an awkward exchange and criticism from many viewers as they saw it as inappropriate. In response to the criticism, Doyel apologized on social media and in a column, admitting that his comments were wrong and offensive. He acknowledged that his attempt to be clever and welcoming had backfired and deeply regretted his words. Despite this incident, Doyel’s absence from covering the team will be notable as a result of the controversy at the news conference.

Former Star sportswriter Bob Kravitz reported that Doyel had been suspended for two weeks, though this was not confirmed by Antón. The Fever are expected to be a major draw during the upcoming WNBA season which is set to begin next week. With Doyel’s absence from covering the team due to controversy at the news conference, it remains to be seen how he will handle future interactions with athletes and their families.