The Indiana Fever have revoked media credentials for Scott Agness, a long-time reporter covering Indiana basketball. Agness announced this decision on his website, Fieldhouse Files, citing that the team’s public relations staff attributed the revocation to the “spread of inaccurate and unsubstantiated information” regarding Caitlin Clark’s injury status in a game against the Portland Fire on May 20.
Less than two hours before the game, the Fever declared that Clark would not participate. Agness noted in a tweet that this decision was part of a “strategic management plan for the season.” Although Clark missed 31 games in 2025 due to various injuries, she was not on the injury report before being ruled out for the game. According to league rules, teams must report player injury and illness information by 5 p.m. local time the day before a game, including the reasoning for any player affected.
In a follow-up article on May 20, Agness clarified that his use of “strategic management plan” was not an insinuation of load management, but rather a precautionary measure based on Clark’s previous season injuries. He claimed this phrase was derived from a “trusted league source,” which the Fever’s PR team contested.
Prior to the game, Fever head coach Stephanie White described Clark as having experienced back stiffness and soreness, stating, “It’s not the time to take a chance.” A subsequent question regarding concerns about Clark’s injury beyond that day was met with uncertainty from White, who eventually expressed that Clark was “healthy.” White later denied that the decision was related to load management.
Following this incident, the league reportedly advised the Fever to adhere to proper injury reporting protocols, emphasizing that teams risk fines for violations of these rules. After the game against the Fire, Clark has been consistently listed as “probable” on injury reports.
Agness clarified in an interview with The Athletic that his initial report aimed to provide context about Clark’s absence. He did not seek confirmation from the Fever before posting his report, believing he would receive no useful response. He described the intention behind his report as reassuring fans about Clark’s health, framing the decision as part of a broader management strategy.
The WNBA chapter of the Professional Basketball Writers Association expressed strong objections to Agness losing access based on his reporting actions. In his announcement, Agness mentioned that his access to the Pacers had also been restricted prior to the 2023-24 NBA season, coinciding with a broader tightening of media rules that particularly affect independent reporters.
Agness, who established Fieldhouse Files in 2020 after covering the Pacers for eight years, noted that these recent decisions have hindered independent journalism in providing thorough coverage. He has attended every Fever training camp, home game, and playoff game in recent years and has contributed various stories about the team.
Source: defector.com via Google News.
