WNBA icon Sheryl Swoopes explains false Caitlin Clark statements, speaks out against ex-friend...

WNBA icon Sheryl Swoopes explains false Caitlin Clark statements, speaks out against ex-friend Nancy Lieberman.

WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes held an X Spaces on Tuesday to clarify her recent controversial statements about Caitlin Clark and discuss her strained relationship with former WNBA coach Nancy Lieberman.

Swoopes faced backlash after making misleading remarks about Clark’s college career statistics on the "Gil's Arena" podcast in February. She inaccurately suggested Clark had played five college seasons and took over 40 shots per game, and made a statement implying Clark was significantly older than her listed age.

Swoopes admitted to making errors but asserted that she has apologized directly to Clark and has no intention of issuing a public apology. "I reached out to Caitlin. We've had a great conversation," Swoopes stated during the X Spaces event, attended by Fox News Digital. She attributed the confusion to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and defended her comments as hyperbolic rather than factual errors.

Swoopes also addressed her ongoing conflict with Lieberman, who recently criticized her on "The Stephen A. Smith Show" for not accurately representing Clark’s statistics. Swoopes claimed the dispute was exacerbated by social media interactions rather than direct communication, and she dismissed Lieberman’s comments, stating her life was better without her.

Swoopes, who was absent from her role as a TV analyst for the Dallas Wings last Sunday, is a pioneering figure in women’s basketball with a legacy of four WNBA championships and three MVP awards.