USA Today issued a correction to a report that incorrectly stated Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark missed the WNBA Orange Carpet event to get her hair done. The initial report, attributed to USA Today reporter Heather Burns, claimed Clark skipped the Thursday event for a hair appointment in her hometown of Des Moines.
Clark, however, was in her hometown hosting a charity dinner for the Caitlin Clark Foundation, according to a correction issued by the outlet on Friday. The published correction stated: "Clarification: Caitlin Clark was attending an event for the Caitlin Clark Foundation, which is why she missed the WNBA All-Star Weekend Orange Carpet."
Critics argued the initial report was not a clarification but a full correction, as the premise of the original story was inaccurate. This false report portrayed Clark in a negative and selfish light, when her actual reason for missing the event was for a charitable cause. USA Today has not yet issued a public apology to Clark.
This incident follows another controversial column by USA Today reporter Nancy Armour, who drew criticism for invoking the 1955 murder of Emmett Till in her commentary on Clark's basketball performance. Armour's column drew parallels between Clark's on-court actions and the historic racial violence, a comparison that sparked significant backlash.