Columnist apologizes for 'clumsy and awkward' interaction with Caitlin Clark

The sports columnist then published a piece apologizing directly to the No. 1 overall pick for being "part of the problem" on Wednesday.

"I’m devastated to realize I’m part of the problem. I screwed up Wednesday during my first interaction with No. 1 overall draft pick Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever," Doyel wrote. "What happened was the most me thing ever, in one way. I’m sort of known locally, sigh, for having awkward conversations with people before asking brashly conversational questions. I’ve done this for years with Colts coaches Chuck Pagano, Frank Reich and Shane Steichen. I’ve done it with Purdue players Carsen Edwards and Zach Edey. I did it with IU’s Romeo Langford, talking to them as people, not athletes."

He pointed out that all of the names he listed were men and that "on the one hand, yes absolutely, male and female athletes should be treated the same," in regard to "coverage, respect, compensation, terminology, you name it."

Doyel wrote that he's learned that he needs to be "more aware about how (he talks) to people — not just athletes."

"In my haste to be clever, to be familiar and welcoming (or so I thought), I offended Caitlin and her family," he wrote. "After going through denial, and then anger — I’m on the wrong side of this? Me??? — I now realize what I said and how I said it was wrong, wrong, wrong. I mean it was just wrong. Caitlin Clark, I’m so sorry."

With Clark and other uber-talented rookies joining the WNBA in 2024, popularity surrounding women's basketball is on the rise. Hopefully there won't be many more cringeworthy moments like what happened on Wednesday to overshadow what should be a celebratory occasion for the sport.