As Caitlin Clark nears the NCAA Division I women’s basketball career scoring record, she is not only securing her place in the sport’s history books but also earning something invaluable: widespread recognition and admiration for her exceptional talent and dedication to the game.

Following her remarks that stirred widespread attention and criticism, Sheryl Swoopes, one of the most esteemed figures in women’s basketball history, has extended an apology to Caitlin Clark.

Recognizing the impact of her comments, Swoopes reached out to Clark to engage in a conversation and express her regret.

Following her remarks that garnered widespread attention, Sheryl Swoopes, a distinguished figure in women’s basketball history, has extended an apology to Caitlin Clark with the assistance of LSU star Angel Reese, who facilitated the conversation. Swoopes revealed that she spoke with Reese on the phone a few weeks prior and reached out to Clark, who responded, initiating a dialogue.

During a broadcast of a Texas Tech-Baylor women’s basketball game, Swoopes shared that she admitted her mistake to Clark, acknowledging that she inaccurately stated it was Clark’s fifth year when it is actually her fourth. Swoopes, known for her illustrious career with accomplishments including four WNBA championships, four Olympic gold medals, three WNBA MVP awards, and an NCAA championship, expressed regret for her comments.

The controversy arose when Swoopes downplayed Clark’s impending achievement of becoming the career scoring leader, citing inaccurate statistics during an appearance on a YouTube show hosted by Gilbert Arenas. Swoopes inaccurately described Clark as a 25-year-old player in her fifth year of college who attempts 40 shots per game, while Clark, at 22 years old, is in her fourth season at Iowa and averages 22.7 shots per game at a 47.5% shooting accuracy.

Sheryl Swoopes apologized to Caitlin Clark for critical comments

Clark achieved the scoring record in her 126th career game, surpassing former Washington star Kelsey Plum. Swoopes’ remarks faced criticism from Iowa fans and others within the sport.

Swoopes emphasized her respect for Clark and expressed openness to Clark sharing her response and how the conversation unfolded. She concluded by affirming that it was a positive and productive exchange.

“I have nothing but respect for what she has done for the game,” Swoopes said Sunday. “If she wants to share what her response was and how that conversation went, I’ll leave that to her.