A rift between basketball legends Nancy Lieberman and Sheryl Swoopes appears to be growing after both made public comments that have cast doubt on the future of their friendship. The disagreement stems from differing opinions about the impact of current NCAA star Caitlin Clark, and it seems to have driven a wedge between the two Hall of Famers.
In a candid interview on Stephen A. Smith’s podcast, Lieberman revealed the status of her relationship with Swoopes, saying, “My life is going to be good with or without Sheryl Swoopes.” She explained that their falling out began after Swoopes made comments in February on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast, downplaying Clark’s achievement of breaking the NCAA career scoring record. Swoopes had mistakenly claimed that Clark had benefited from an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which wasn’t the case.
“I called [Sheryl Swoopes] as a friend and I said “you can have your own opinion about anybody but you do have to get the stats right.”
— Clark Report (@CClarkReport) September 2, 2024
“She got upset with me… and so our relationship is pretty much not happening at this point.”
Nancy Lieberman on her relationship with Swoopes https://t.co/0rDVrEdMVO pic.twitter.com/Ktghz1UE7W
Lieberman said she reached out to Swoopes as a friend to inform her of the error, but things took an unexpected turn. “Well, she got upset with me on the phone,” Lieberman told Smith. “And I was like, ‘Sheryl, I’m not doing anything to hurt you. I’m just sharing.’ And so our relationship pretty much is not happening at this point.”
Swoopes didn’t stay silent for long. Later that evening, she took to social media, firing back with a direct response: “My life is good without you too (and him),” referencing Stephen A. Smith in her tweet. Swoopes continued, addressing Lieberman’s comments by saying, “You know good and well what happened.”
Lieberman also expressed disappointment that Swoopes hadn’t mentioned Clark on a recent episode of her own podcast, despite praising other members of the Indiana Fever. The silence, Lieberman suggested, only fueled the perception of tension between Swoopes and Clark.
However, Swoopes tried to clear the air, posting screenshots of a text exchange with Clark from February. In the messages, Swoopes acknowledged her mistake, writing, “Covid year has me all confused…Lol! I also have nothing but respect for you and your game.” Clark responded with grace, saying she had “no hard feelings” and appreciated Swoopes for inspiring her and other young girls.
Despite the exchange, the friendship between Lieberman and Swoopes seems fractured, with both publicly asserting that they are moving forward independently. Whether this once-strong bond can be mended remains uncertain.