• Loading stock data...
Saturday, May 31, 2025

‘Indianapolis Star’ Quietly Suspends Writer Over Caitlin Clark Interaction

  • He previously apologized on X and in a column. 
  • The columnist is suspended for two weeks. 
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Caitlin Clark made her preseason debut for the Fever, the Pacers are in the second round of the NBA playoffs, and Roger Penske is in hot water ahead of the Indianapolis 500. It’s the wildest Indianapolis sports scene in some time—and the city is currently without one of its most prominent sporting voices.

Longtime Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel is serving a two-week suspension for an awkward April 17 press conference encounter with Caitlin Clark. The news was reported first by Bob Kravitz, a longtime reporter in Indianapolis, who said the suspension was handed down by both the Star and its parent company, Gannett. 

Doyel’s last byline came April 29 in a piece about the Colts, almost two weeks after he made national headlines at Clark’s introductory press conference in Indianapolis following her being selected with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA by the Fever. At that presser, Doyel used his hands to make a heart sign at Clark—a gesture she often made while playing at Iowa—who asked in response, “You like that?”

Doyel replied, “I like that you’re here.” 

“I do that at my family after every game,” Clark said. 

“Well,” Doyel said, “start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.” 

The interaction was widely criticized on social media as unnecessary, unprofessional, cringey, inappropriate, and sexist, while Clark was applauded for her composure throughout. Doyel later apologized for his “oafish … clumsy and awkward” behavior both on X and in a column, but apparently that wasn’t enough for his superiors. 

Kravitz reported that Doyel’s suspension is set to end May 13, but when he comes back it doesn’t appear likely that he’ll cross paths with Clark again. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Star said that “sports columnist Gregg Doyel will not be covering the Indiana Fever” but that they do not comment on personnel matters. Doyel’s email sent an auto-response that said he was “getting tired” and “taking time off” before returning May 13, the same day Kravitz wrote his suspension was set to end.

The Fever declined to comment, while the WNBA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

Newly American-Owned Italian Hoops Team Hires Ex-Pelicans Exec as GM

Napoli Basketball is hiring the Pelicans’ former chief of staff as GM.

PSG and the City of Paris Can Join European Soccer’s Elite

What a maiden Champions League title would mean for the French club.

Featured Today

How the Champions League Anthem Took on a Life of Its Own

The composer didn’t know he wrote a timeless hit three decades ago.
May 25, 2025

How Rolex Paved the Way for Luxury’s Love Affair With Tennis

“It’s almost impossible to think about tennis without thinking about Rolex.”
Mar 23, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Alexandra Eala (PHI) reacts after winning a point against Madison Keys (USA)(not pictured) on day six of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.
May 24, 2025

Alex Eala Is Defying Her Country’s Odds to Make French Open History

The Philippines native has overcome a unique set of financial odds.
May 24, 2025

Indiana Is the Center of the Basketball Universe—Thanks to Both Pro Teams

The Fever and Pacers are thriving at the same time.
May 30, 2025

Panthers-Oilers Rematch Could Be Big in Canada. Will U.S. Ratings Dip?

Likely viewership declines in the U.S. are countered by robust Canadian audiences.
May 30, 2025

French Open Scheduling Sparks Backlash Over Women’s Time Slots

Coco Gauff has also said the French Open schedule could be improved.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

In Episode 7 of Portfolio Players, go inside the boardroom with Avenue Capital CEO and former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry on Giannis’s future, women’s sports, and upstart leagues like TGL and Unrivaled. 
May 28, 2025

NBA East Finals Delivers Strong TV Ratings, but West Is Struggling

The Pacers and Thunder are both up 3–1 in their conference finals series.
Around the Horn
May 23, 2025

Behind the Scenes of Around the Horn’s Final Days

FOS followed Tony Reali at the penultimate taping of the ESPN icon.
Around the Horn - October 26, 2020
May 23, 2025

‘Quirky, Nutty, Bombastic’: 10 ‘Around the Horn’ Faces on Their Top Moments

“A quirky, nutty, bombastic, mostly wrong, sometimes right, crazy sports family.”
May 22, 2025

NBC Eyes MLB Rights, Looks to Own Sunday Nights Year-Round

The league continues to shop media rights being forfeited by ESPN.