ESPN host Pat McAfee apologized for using inappropriate language while praising WNBA star Caitlin Clark. He acknowledged that, regardless of the context, he was wrong to use such language about a player he greatly respects.
On Monday, ESPN host Pat McAfee issued an apology for using inappropriate language while praising WNBA star Caitlin Clark.
McAfee was responding to the idea that the recent spike in WNBA popularity is not only due to Clark’s rise but also to the performances and personalities of other rookies like Angel Reese and Cameron Brink.
Also Read:- Simone Biles Secures Record Ninth U.S. All-Around Title, Dominates Every Event at Nationals
“What the WNBA currently has is what we like to describe as a cash cow. There is a superstar,” McAfee said on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“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.”
Shortly after this segment aired, McAfee took to social media to issue a retraction.
“I shouldn’t have used ‘white b—-‘ as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark,” McAfee wrote.
McAfee acknowledged that, regardless of the context, he was wrong to use such language about a player he greatly respects.
“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,” he added. “That’s 100% on me and for that I apologize.”
Also Read:- Ronaldo in Tears as Al Nassr Falls to Al Hilal in Saudi King’s Cup Final
Caitlin Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, was the top pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. She mesmerized college basketball fans with her extraordinary offensive skills, including making shots from just inside half court.
Clark led the Iowa Hawkeyes to consecutive national title games (though they lost both), most recently against South Carolina, which drew 18.7 million viewers. This figure surpassed the men’s national championship game between UConn and Purdue, which had 14.8 million viewers.
Since joining the WNBA, Clark’s presence has significantly boosted ticket sales for the Indiana Fever and increased the league’s overall viewership.
She was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for May after leading all first-year players in scoring (17.6 points per game), field goals made (46), 3-pointers made (24), free throws made (42), assists (6.6 per game), and minutes played (33 per game).