The 2025 Women’s March Madness final gave fans everything they hoped for and more. Paige Bueckers put on a masterclass, dropping 17 points to lead UConn to a thrilling 12th national championship. But while the on-court action was electric, the biggest off-court moment came from none other than Caitlin Clark. The former Iowa star made headlines with a powerful statement, one that had nothing to do with buzzer-beaters or stat sheets.
Caitlin Clark Addressed All the Rumors About the Fever’s Locker Room
Appearing as a guest on the alternative broadcast hosted by WNBA legends Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, Clark finally addressed the swirling rumors surrounding the Indiana Fever’s locker room.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s something that you kind of just become used to. It’s like when people think they know what’s going on inside of their locker room. And at the end of the day, it’s just the girls who have been there and obviously coaching staff. That’s all that matters. Honestly, the best thing about last year is we honestly had so much fun together,” Clark said during the segment.
“Yeah, we lost our first eight [of nine] games or whatever. But we wouldn’t have won if we didn’t have a tight-knit circle or a good locker room. And that’s the reason that kind of turned everything around … we needed some time. We were a young group, you know? We figured it out, but it was really fun, honestly,” Clark said.
The speculation, which had been heating up for the last year, was sparked by Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes during an appearance on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast in September 2024. Swoopes claimed there was a lot of tension within the Fever camp and even suggested that players were leaving the team because of it.
“I still don’t think she’s dominating, but she’s a different player than she was in the first half of the season. … There’s a lot of other s*** going on that players are like, ‘This ain’t where I want to be.’ You have players that are very significant on this Indiana Fever team that are like, I don’t know if this is where I want to be,” Swoopes said during her appearance on the podcast.
But when pressed for evidence, Swoopes failed to provide any concrete proof, leaving the basketball world divided and confused.
“I’m not in the locker room. I don’t know. I’m not even on the team,” added Swoopes when asked about the source.
Clark’s 2024 rookie season brought a surge of energy and attention to the franchise. Although they lost their first five games and didn’t make a deep playoff run, they showed flashes of what could be a dominant future.
With the 2025 season just around the corner, all eyes will be on Indiana — not just to see how Clark performs in her sophomore year but to see if the Fever can translate potential into wins. One thing’s clear: the locker room, according to Clark, is not breaking — it’s bonding.
However, while Swoopes questioned Clark’s effect on the Fever locker room, there was a time when she praised her.
Sheryl Swoopes Surprised Everyone With Clark’s Praise
Swoopes has long been labeled a Clark critic, often downplaying the Fever star’s impact on women’s basketball. But in a recent ESPN interview, the Hall of Famer left fans stunned with an unexpected change in tone.
During the segment, Swoopes discussed a wide range of WNBA players, from DeWanna Bonner to Natasha Howard. Yet, what truly grabbed attention was her rare praise for Clark.
“Can we talk about Kelsey Mitchell, who is just a walking bucket? How much stronger Caitlin got in the offseason, you know she was in the gym working on her game. This Indiana Fever team, they have put the pieces together in this offseason, and I’m excited to see what they’re going to do,” said Swoopes during her interview with ESPN, posted on TikTok.
@espnw WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes says the Fever could win the title this season 👀 #indianafever #caitlinclark #wnba
Clark wrapped up her rookie year by averaging 19.2 points and 8.4 assists per game. Now, with Stephanie White as the head coach, Clark is expected to reach great heights this season.