ESPN analyst Monica McNutt put Stephen A. Smith on blast for his coverage of the WNBA during a heated exchange about Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.
Monday’s episode of First Take began with a lengthy discussion about Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter’s hard foul on Clark in Saturday’s game. The league reviewed the play after the game and gave Carter a flagrant foul.
The WNBA confirmed that Chennedy Carter’s foul on Caitlin Clark from yesterday’s game has been upgraded to a Flagrant 1, per @alexaphilippou.pic.twitter.com/o7QzaFRkL5
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 2, 2024
McNutt argued that because of the narratives surrounding the incident, new WNBA fans may be under the impression that the entire league is out to get Clark because of her immediate stardom. She claimed that the media plays a part in that.
“You guys may not have said, ‘Everybody,’” McNutt said, “but the prevailing sentiment for folks that are just joining the WNBA and following women’s sports is unfair to the women of this league — to your point — who have laid the groundwork for Caitlin Clark to come in and now take it to the next level.
McNutt emphasized that Carter’s actions weren’t a reflection of the entire WNBA. Smith seemed taken aback by her criticism of the media’s coverage of the sport.
“Who talks about the WNBA, who talks about women sport’s more than no. 1 First Take?” Smith responded.
McNutt fired back by saying Smith could have been using his massive platform to put eyes on the WNBA several years ago.
“Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could’ve been doing this three years ago if you wanted to,” she said.
After a few seconds of silence, Smith let out stunned, “Wow.”
“Who does more than us?” Smith said.
“I’m talking to you!” McNutt said. “I’m talking to you. Don’t do that. I’m talking to you about the power that you have. I’m talking to you.”
Smith claimed that McNutt “missed a lot of episodes of First Take” in response to her criticism.
“Stephen A., three years ago, you were not talking about the W at this level,” McNutt said. “Don’t do that! Come on now!”
After Shannon Sharpe interjected to say McNutt just made Smith’s point, First Take host Molly Qerim cut everyone off to go a commercial break and end the 40-minute segment.
Watch above via ESPN
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