As soon as it became clear that Pat McAfee was at Saturday’s game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, featuring Sky guard Chennedy Carter shouldering Fever guard Caitlin Clark to the ground, it was inevitable that he’d be discussing the incident on his The Pat McAfee Show.
Fans didn’t have to wait long, as the topic opened Monday’s show, as McAfee went off on unnamed WNBA players and media and spent nearly 10 minutes explaining why Clark is the only superstar in the rookie class, punctuating his point by calling Clark a “cash cow” and “one white b—- who is a superstar”
McAfee started the segment by first discussing how players on opposing teams have talked a lot of trash to Clark, and he had a message to send to sports media and ex-WNBA players.
Let’s dive into the REALITY of the Caitlin Clark WNBA situation#PMSLive #Journalism pic.twitter.com/7Z96TEemLN
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 3, 2024
“There seems to be this notion that this whole evolution of success and popularity in the WNBA is because of this entire rookie class. I think there’s a chance Chennedy Carter thinks [Sky rookie forward] Angel Reese deserves all this credit. The media talks about how it’s the entire class,” McAfee said before asking a series of questions regarding TV ratings and jersey sales, which showed Clark ahead of Reese and Los Angeles Sparks’ forward Cameron Brink, the second overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Let's take a look at some of the numbers#PMSLive https://t.co/i1LGMT73Do pic.twitter.com/AK3KPPwQmo
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 3, 2024
Not only did McAfee break down the numbers, but he acted incredulous and almost insulted that anyone would have dared question them in the first place.
The kicker came when he was getting ready to wrap the segment up, though, as McAfee made his shocking comment.
Monday's Pat McAfee Show opened with a Caitlin Clark PowerPoint:
"I would like the media people that continue to say, 'This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class'. Nah, just call it for what it is — there's one white bitch for the Indiana team who is a superstar." pic.twitter.com/psGNQXts5O
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 3, 2024
“I would like the media people that continue to say, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class, this rookie class’. Nah, just call it for what it is — there’s one white b—- for the Indiana team who is a superstar.”
While McAfee was defending Clark’s importance to the league, calling a female athlete a b—- is way over the line regardless of context.
McAfee then continued ranting against unnamed critics and WNBA referees who ‘try to screw Clark over at every turn.’
Update: USA Today’s Chris Bumbaca reached out to ESPN for comment here, and got a no comment.
ESPN declined to comment on Pat McAfee's use of language to describe Caitlin Clark and the way he framed his segment about the WNBA to open today's show.
— Chris Bumbaca (@BOOMbaca) June 3, 2024
