Mark Lye Fired from SiriusXM After Insensitive WNBA Remarks—A Lesson in Boundaries and Consequences

Former PGA Tour pro and SiriusXM golf analyst Mark Lye is no longer part of “The Scorecard” lineup after an on-air segment over the weekend that crossed the line.

While attempting to praise the progress of the LPGA Tour, Lye made a provocative comparison that involved disparaging the WNBA, claiming he’d rather “shoot [himself] than watch” women’s professional basketball—a statement that quickly sparked widespread outrage and cost him his job.

🗣️ Shock Moment on Live Radio

The contentious commentary occurred during a February episode of SiriusXM’s PGA channel in a discussion about the improvements in the women’s golf circuit over the past decade. Lye stated:

“You know, the LPGA Tour to me is a completely different tour than it was 10 years ago… You couldn’t pay me to watch. You really couldn’t, because I couldn’t relate at all.”
“It’s kind of like, you know, if you’re a basketball player … I’m not trashing anybody … but I saw some highlights of ladies basketball. Man, is there a gun in the house? I’ll shoot myself rather than watch that.”

His co-host cut in with a joke: “Good luck getting some WNBA stars to come play for you.” Lye responded, “Yeah, I know… I’m off their list.” (turn0search9)

🚨 Termination Confirmed

SiriusXM issued a statement confirming Lye’s removal: he “will no longer be hosting” due to the inappropriate WNBA comments. Lye himself confirmed the firing to Golf.com, saying, “I was terminated about comments made about the WNBA, which I apologized for starting the next segment.” (turn0search1, turn0search2)

💬 Lye’s Defense — “Not Sexist, Just Cancel Culture”

Day after the incident, Lye took to Twitter to defend himself, claiming that critics had misinterpreted his intentions:

“The fact that I can’t relate to WNBA does not make me sexist in any way. All you haters should listen to the whole segment, where I completely glorified women’s golf, which I love to cover. Thanks for listening.” (turn0search4)

He later criticized what he deemed “cancel culture,” voicing frustration that his remarks—meant to uplift the LPGA—cost him his radio slot. In an interview with the Naples Daily News, Lye said, “Now as I look back on it, it was a hurtful thing.” (turn0search4)

📉 Career Impact & Historical Context

Lye’s dismissal is reminiscent of past controversies on golf radio. A similar incident occurred in 2019 when Hank Haney, another SiriusXM host, was shown the door after insensitive remarks about women’s golf, a case that eventually ended in a dismissed lawsuit. (turn0search0)

Though Lye amassed a respectable resume—winning the 1983 Bank of Boston Classic and logging 41 top-ten finishes—his years as a respected golf voice couldn’t shield him from accountability in a climate emphasizing respectful discourse. (turn0search6)

🧠 Why His Words Landed So Hard

Several factors contributed to the rapidly escalating fallout:

Appearing to trivialize suicide for shock value during a live broadcast.

Misogynistic undertones and dismissing women’s basketball as inferior entertainment.

Occurring on SiriusXM, a platform that promotes equality—and these remarks directly contradicted those values. (turn0search5)

📱 Social Media Responds in Force

Reddit users and social media commentators wasted no time highlighting Lye’s misjudgment. One Reddit thread quipped:

“Looks like he did shoot himself… in the foot.” Others noted, “He shot his career” and pointed out the disconnect between him praising LPGA and bashing women’s basketball.

Some defended free expression; others argued his platform demanded more measured language. (turn0reddit12, turn0reddit13)

🔁 The Broader Trend: Media Accountability

This isn’t an isolated case. As media outlets increasingly embrace social responsibility, even offhand jokes about women’s sports can no longer be brushed off. Lye’s remarks echoed outdated biases and clashed with a more equitable ethos across sports media.

🎯 Lye’s Legacy & What Remains

Despite his on-course accolades and broadcasting history, Lye’s remarks cast a grim shadow. His attempt to elevate one women’s sport by bashing another showed a fundamental misreading of the moment: progress in women’s athletics demands support across all disciplines.

A SiriusXM spokesperson said the firing was prompt and inevitable once executives reviewed the tape. Lye later acknowledged in interviews that his comparison was “hurtful,” but maintained he’d never meant to degrade athletes on the other side. (turn0search4)