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Sports analyst Pat McAfee has issued an apology after calling Caitlin Clark out of her name during a recent livestream.
On Monday, June 3, McAfee appeared for another episode of ‘The Pat McAfee Show,’ which streams live via YouTube and ESPN. About nine minutes into the show, McAfee began to speak about race and the notion that the WNBA has “racist” viewers who “will only watch if a white superstar is there.”
According to CNN, the show segment was intended to explore “whether race has played a factor in the WNBA rookie’s meteoric rise.”
McAfee appeared to disagree with that belief and said that he wanted the media to “call it what it is.”
“There is one white b***h for the Indiana team who is a superstar,” he said. “Is there a chance that people just enjoy watching her play basketball because of how electrifying she is — what she did, what she stood for… maybe? But instead, we have to hear people say that we all like her ’cause she’s white and she’s only popular because the rest of the rookie class is doing what they’re doing. That’s a bunch of bulls**t.”
According to the outlet, McAfee’s description of Clark sparked immediate backlash. Subsequently, McAfee took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to apologize to the public and Clark.
“I shouldn’t have used ‘white b***h’ as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark. No matter the context.. even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening.. I have way too much respect for her and women to put that i nto the universe,” he wrote. “My intentions when saying it were complimentary just like the entire segment but, a lot of folks are saying that it certainly wasn’t at all. That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize… I have sent an apology to Caitlin as well. Everything else I said… still alllllll facts…”
Social media users reacted to McAfee’s initial statements and apology in The Shade Room’s comment section.
As The Shade Room previously reported, Clark made her entrance into the WNBA in April. Since then, the 22-year-old has reportedly received a $28 million deal from Nike amid receiving her own signature shoe from the brand ahead of fellow WNBA star A’ja Wilson.
In May, Clark seemingly asserted that her race played no part in her popularity and recent endorsements, per The Shade Room. Instead, Clark stated that she believes there are “opportunities for every single player in women’s basketball.”
Later that month, social media users appeared to believe that Clark was receiving more favoritism in the media. At the time, LeBron James and Charles Barkley publicly praised Clark. Additionally, Barkley went even so far as to allege that fellow WNBA players were “hating” on her, per The Shade Room.
Earlier this month, Clark alleged that she was being “hammered” by players on the court who were getting too physical with her, per The Shade Room. Shortly after, Chennedy Carter of the Chicago Sky committed a hard foul on Clark, shoulder-checking her during a game.
Apparently, the backlash Clark has received on and off the court has prompted those like McAfee, James, and Barkley to publicly come to her defense. Additionally, the Indiana Fever’s general manager even spoke out in defense of Clark, asserting that she feels the 22-year-old is being “targeted,” per The Shade Room.
Meanwhile, others, such as fellow sports analyst Monica McNutt, contended that Clark is just being treated like everyone else on the court. At the same time, Angel Reese has seemingly asserted that Clark isn’t the only WNBA superstar.
