Pat McAfee calls Caitlin Clark a ‘superstar’ following attacks claiming ‘white privilege’
ESPN host Pat McAfee came to the aid of Indiana Fever newcomer Caitlin Clark on Monday, arguing her popularity in women’s basketball stems from her talent, not her race, as some have alleged.
The Women’s National Basketball Association has seen a spike in interest in recent months, with part of this jump being attributed to Clark’s participation in the league. Some people have argued that Clark being white is why she is so popular, with The View co-host Sunny Hostin claiming that Clark is benefiting from “white privilege.”
McAfee rebuked these claims, noting how a number of other WNBA athletes have become popular despite not being white.
“So I think what we’re trying to say is what the WNBA currently has is what we like to describe as a ‘cash cow,’ there is a superstar,” McAfee said. “And we’re not saying that the players on the court need to act any differently, that’s — the athletes are going to do what athletes are going to do in any sport. I think we’re all learning that the WNBA, that’s old-school football, baby! That is old-school football! But 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.”
McAfee then argued that Clark’s popularity could stem from how she has broken numerous records in her basketball career, or that it is possible people just enjoy watching her play basketball “because of how electrifying she is.”
“What you have is somebody special, and we’re lucky she’s here in Indiana,” McAfee said.
After the show, McAfee issued an apology on X for calling Clark a “white b****,” adding that he has “way too much respect for her” to say that. He also said he sent Clark an apology.
Clark appeared on McAfee’s show in April, during which she said she did not feel any pressure to make the WNBA more popular, arguing that it is gaining popularity naturally. She added that she never imagined women’s basketball becoming as popular as it is today, and that she has loved the sport from a young age.
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Over the weekend, the Indiana Fever beat the Chicago Sky 71-70. One of the standout moments in the game was when Sky player Chennedy Carter pushed Clark to the ground, resulting in her receiving a foul that was later upgraded to a flagrant 1. Fellow Sky player and rookie Angel Reese was also fined $1,000 for not speaking to reporters after the game.
Carter’s push against Clark was shared online by women’s sports activist and OutKick host Riley Gaines, who tagged Hostin and joked that Clark’s “privilege didn’t help her here.”
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