Reporter barred from Fever games after inappropriate Caitlin Clark interaction

IndyStar has apparently taken action against reporter Gregg Doyel.

Longtime Indiana sportswriter Bob Kravitz reported that Doyel had been suspended for two weeks after his recent interaction at a press conference with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.

Kravitz notes that Doyel is currently serving the suspension and is expected to return on Monday. However, Doyel will not cover any Fever games in person this season and will write columns on the team from home upon returning from suspension.

Doyel received widespread backlash for the incident with Clark, which took place on April 17 during Clark’s introductory press conference after she was selected No. 1 overall by the Fever in the WNBA Draft. 

Doyel made Clark’s infamous hand-hearts gesture to her. When Clark responded that she made the gesture to her family after every game, Doyel told her, “Start doing it to me, and we’ll get along just fine.” You can see the video here.

One day after the incident, Doyel issued a public apology for his behavior, but that was not enough to prevent IndyStar from suspending him and barring him from covering Clark’s games in person this season.