The arrival of Caitlin Clark to the WNBA after her stellar time in the NCAA has sparked all kinds of reactions, whether professional, uncomfortable, or desperate. However, one of those reactions was severely punished when the Indy Star newspaper suspended columnist Gregg Doyel.

Doyel is a reporter and columnist with more than 20 years of experience in the sports field. However, his first and only interaction with Clark broke one of the most basic rules of journalism by making the reporter the center of the story.

In Clark’s presentation with the Indiana Fever, after being the first selected in the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Indy Star columnist tried to connect with her by forming the characteristic heart gesture the player directs to her family after each game. But the result was exactly the opposite of what the reporter expected.

Doyelissued an apology almost immediately, but the damage had already been done. Now, almost three weeks after what happened, the Indy Star harshly punished him.

The sanction for Doyel

Although there was no official statement, reporter Bob Kravitz revealed that Doyel had received a two-week suspension for the incident. Additionally, he will not be able to attend any of the Fever’s games this season.

According to Kravitz, Doyel will continue writing columns about Fever games, but he will do so by watching television from his house.

Kravitz reported that Doyel’s most recent column with the Star was dated April 29 and was a piece on the Indianapolis Colts. The columnist did not comment on the matter.

The awkward exchange between Clark and Doyel

This was the brief conversation between the columnist and the player:

Doyel: Gregg Doyel, Indy Star. Real quick, let me do this. [Heart hands gesture.]

Clark: You like that?

Doyel: I like that you’re here, I like that you’re here.

Clark: Yeah, I do that to my family after every game. Pretty cool.

Doyel: Well, start doing it to me, and we’ll get along just fine.

The awkwardness of his comments attracted Doyel a lot of criticism inside and outside the journalistic environment. Most critics questioned whether he would have attempted to do the same with a male athlete.