ESPN Anchor Apologizes To WNBA Legend For Igniting Caitlin Clark Controversy

ESPN’s Elle Duncan is accepting responsibility for jumping the gun.

The host of the self-titled “Elle Duncan Show” recently admitted on X that she unfairly criticized comments WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes made about Indiana Fever rookie phenom Caitlin Clark on her “Queens of the Court” podcast, and she issued an apology to the four-time WNBA champion acknowledging as much.

“I did the thing you aren’t supposed to do,” Duncan tweeted . “I reacted to Sheryl Swoopes’ comments about Caitlin Clark based on quotes pulled for me by producers in the rundown. I should have LISTENED to the show. The same thing I IMPLORED CC fans to do when they were attacking me a couple months back 4 “hating” on her. I HATE that I’ve sent more vitriol her direction and I’m taking this BIG L! I’ve texted Sheryl the same thing. I will do better! I am sorry.”

In a separate response to a comment on her post, Duncan reiterated that she wasn’t throwing her producers under the bus, and she took ownership of not listening to Swoopes’ comments with the proper context.

The original incident took place on Thursday when Duncan seemingly took issue with Swoopes’ assessment of the WNBA Rookie of the Year race, in which she pointed out both Clark and Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese have different impacts on their respective teams.

“I don’t know if Chicago is in the playoffs right now without Angel [Reese], right,” Swoopes said. “…Is Indiana in the playoffs right now, without Caitlin? … When you look at the overall team, like the pieces that they have, without question, Indiana has better players than Chicago from top to bottom. No doubt about it.”

Duncan seemingly interpreted what Swoopes said as badmouthing Clark when, in reality, she was simply pointing out why Reese may be getting overlooked in the ROTY race and not actually throwing shade at Clark.

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