Sports analyst Pat McAfee has issued a formal apology after facing backlash for using inappropriate language to describe WNBA star Caitlin Clark. During the June 3 episode of The Pat McAfee Show, McAfee was discussing Clark’s impressive impact on the 2024 WNBA season, but his praise took a wrong turn when he referred to Clark using a derogatory term.
While highlighting Clark’s stardom and the increasing attention she has brought to the league, McAfee said, “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.” His comment was meant to emphasize Clark’s rise as a standout in the WNBA, but the language he chose immediately sparked a wave of criticism across social media.
The reaction was swift, with many fans and critics questioning McAfee’s choice of words. One viral post, which received over 2,000 likes, expressed disappointment over McAfee’s disrespect, noting that despite his admiration for Clark’s contributions to women’s basketball, he failed to show her the respect she deserved by using such language. The incident raised concerns about how public figures in sports media can sometimes unintentionally undermine their praise with harmful rhetoric.
In response to the controversy, McAfee took to X (formerly Twitter) just hours later to apologize for his remarks. He admitted that referring to Clark as a “white bitch” was wrong, regardless of the context. “I shouldn’t have used ‘white bitch’ as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark,” he wrote. “No matter the context… I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe.” McAfee further explained that his intention was to compliment Clark, but he recognized that his words were harmful, and he took full responsibility for the misstep. He also confirmed that he had privately apologized to Clark on Monday.
Despite the apology, McAfee stood by his broader sentiment about Clark’s influence on the WNBA. He reiterated that his comments about her being a superstar in the league remained true. “Everything else I said… still alllllll facts,” he concluded, showing continued support for Clark and the league.
The controversy surrounding McAfee’s comment unfolded amidst ongoing discussions about Clark’s relationships with other WNBA players. Just days before the incident, Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter was involved in a physical altercation with Clark on the court, resulting in a flagrant foul. Following the game, Carter faced further scrutiny after dismissing Clark’s playing style in a post on Threads. The WNBA responded by upgrading Carter’s foul to a flagrant 1 penalty, with Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon issuing a statement emphasizing that Carter had learned from her actions and understood the importance of handling such situations better in the future.
