Caitlin Clark led the Indiana Fever to a 100-93 victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday.

WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes was absent from the game. Nancy Lieberman replaced Swoopes as the Wings’ color commentator for the game.

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Texas Tech alumnus Sheryl Swoopes attends Alumni Weekend during the Texas Tech vs. Baylor game on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at United Supermarkets Arena. (IMAGE)

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smtih believes that Swoopes was removed from the broadcast because of her personal feelings for Clark.

“Which is incriminating, in my opinion — it’s just my opinion — but what is incriminating is for someone like Sheryl Swoopes, who by the way was supposed to be covering the game with you guys yesterday, but didn’t,” Smith said during a recent episode of “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”

“And it definitely had to do with the fact that Caitlin Clark, when she performed earlier that week, didn’t want to talk about it at all.”

Smith is referring to the moment Clark scored 31 points and had 12 assists in the Fever’s 100-81 win over Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky last week.

“We recognize that, and we know that on television as I do. I know what producers do, I know what bosses do when you see your personal feelings, whatever they may be, they infiltrate the proceedings and jeopardize your position as a professional.”

WNBA HALL OF FAMER SHERYL SWOOPES LEAKS SCREENSHOTS OF ALLEGED TEXT MESSAGES WITH CAITLIN CLARK: ‘I MADE A MISTAKE’

Sheryl Swoopes speaks during the Earl Lloyd Sports Legacy Symposium at the FedEx Forum in downtown Memphis, Tennessee on Monday, January 20, 2020. (IMAGE)

Bally Sports Southwest had no comment for Fox News Digital when asked about Swoopes not being on the air. The Dallas Wings did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Swoopes made false statements about Clark’s college career and statistics during an appearance on the podcast “Gil’s Arena” with former NBA star Gilbert Arenas in February.

Swoopes said Clark spent five seasons in college and shot more than 40 times per game. She also recounted how Clark broke the NCAA record for all-time basketball scoring during her senior year in 2023.

While Clark actually only played four seasons and averaged just 22.7 shots per game en route to the record.

CHICAGO SKY PLAYER Frisks CAITLIN CLARK, THEN Posts The Hate Comments She Received Online

Swoopes posted to X on Monday the text message of apology she sent to Clark following the February comments.

“Hey Caitlin I wanted to reach out to you personally and say I made a mistake what year this is for you COVID year is confusing me,” Swoopes wrote. “I also have nothing but respect for you and your game and appreciate your skills. Congrats on all you have accomplished so far. Be blessed.”

The other screenshots show Clark thanking Swoopes for the outreach and her contributions to the WNBA. Swoopes said she appreciates Clark and her game and told her to “stay awesome!”

Swoopes, during an August episode of her “Queens of the Court” podcast, conspicuously left Clark out as a reason for the Fever’s recent improvement, praising only Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull.

However, Clark was the team’s leading scorer during the winning streak and is already among the top scorers in the WNBA.

CAITLIN CLARK DESTROYS FEVER FRANCHISE RECORD, INDIANA CROSSES .500 MARKET WITH VICTORY

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, carries the ball onto the court against Chicago Sky during the first half at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on August 30, 2024. (Kamil Krzaczynski – USA TODAY Sports)

The Fever started the season 1-8 and have since gone 16-8. After their win on Sunday, they are above .500 for the first time this season at 17-16.

Smith responded to Swoopes’ statements in that episode, saying the Hall of Famer was “crazy to do something like that.”

“Do you have any idea what that makes you look like?”

Swoopes responded by going to X.

“You talk about whoever and whatever you want on your podcast. Is that right? Why can’t I? And did you listen to the ENTIRE episode? NO! I have a personal connection with these players and they deserve recognition too.”

Smith said Swoopes’ basketball talent makes her lack of praise for Clark seem personal.

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Texas Tech alum Sheryl Swoopes attends the Texas Tech vs. Baylor game on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at United Supermarkets Arena. (IMAGE)

“But I think in the case of Sheryl Swoopes, and I won’t dwell on this too much, it’s important to emphasize that Sheryl Swoopes is a winner. She was amazing and she’s a phenomenal basketball mind.”

“What she doesn’t realize is that when she doesn’t say the obvious, it’s automatically assumed to be personal. Because we know that you know the game of basketball, the game itself, too well to ignore the things that she ignores when it comes to Caitlin Clark.”

The Fever’s next game is on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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