From Heart shape to suspension: The story behind Indianapolis Star sportswriter Gregg Doyel’s removal from covering the Indiana Fever
Indianapolis Star sports columnist Gregg Doyel faced criticism for his interaction with WNBA No. 1 draft pick Caitlin Clark at her introductory news conference, and as a result, he will not be covering the Indiana Fever in person this season. Gannett spokesperson Lark-Marie Antón confirmed that Doyel will not be covering the Fever but did not comment on personnel matters.
Former Star sportswriter Bob Kravitz first reported the decision, citing anonymous sources, and also mentioned that Doyel had been suspended for two weeks. However, Antón denied this claim. Doyel’s most recent column was published on April 29. The columnist had previously apologized for his interaction with Clark, which took place during a news conference in Indianapolis shortly after the Fever selected her as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft.
During the news conference, Doyel made a heart shape with his hands towards Clark, prompting a somewhat uncomfortable exchange between the two. The interaction was widely criticized as inappropriate, with many describing it as awkward and even creepy. Despite apologizing both on social media and in a subsequent column, acknowledging that his words and actions were wrong, Doyel faced backlash for his behavior. As a result of his actions, he will not be covering the Indiana Fever this season. The WNBA season is set to begin next week, with the Fever expected to be one of the most anticipated teams to watch.
