WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes was banned from covering the Indiana Fever’s win over the Dallas Wings on Sunday night, Stephen A. Smith claims.

Swoopes’ alleged removal follows her previous criticism of Clark. Smith alleged that Bally Sports Southwest was concerned because she did not record the match immediately.

The game was covered on behalf of the network by Ron Thulin and Nancy Lieberman, who was a guest on Smith’s show this week following the Fever’s victory over the Wings.

Lieberman confirmed Smith’s theory about Swoopes’ alleged removal. According to him, television network producers did not want obvious biases to creep into the broadcasts.

Smith has been an outspoken supporter of Clark since her studies at the University of Iowa, while Swoopes has been critical of the Indiana sensation but also maintains that she doesn’t mind Clark’s playing.

Caitlin Clark scored 28 points to lead the Indiana Fever to a win over the Wings on Sunday

Sheryl Swoopes was supposed to attend the game but was reportedly dropped

“What’s even more taxing on someone like Sheryl Swoopes is that she was supposed to cover the game with you guys yesterday and she didn’t. I’m sure it had to do with the way Caitlin Clark had done it earlier in the week. She didn’t want to talk about it at all,” Smith began, referring to Clark’s career-high 31 points against the Chicago Sky.

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

“Sheryl Swoopes is a winner, she was amazing and she’s a phenomenal basketball mind,” Smith added. “So 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 too well to ignore the things that she ignores when it comes to Caitlin Clark.”

Swoopes first came under fire about Clark in March, saying she “wasn’t legitimate” because she was a 25-year-old player in her fifth year and that she took “about 40 shots a game.” Clark was 22 during her entire senior season at Iowa.

Swoopes has since retracted those comments and apologized to Clark, but the damage was done.

The Texas Tech legend also drew criticism for not mentioning Clark when talking about Indiana’s best players in the past.