ESPN's Monica McNutt Goes On Anti-Caitlin Clark Rant On 'The Daily Show'

ESPN commentator Monica McNutt joined Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" and had more negative things to say about Caitlin Clark.

McNutt declared that she would "not be silenced" in her stance on Clark. McNutt and fellow sports analysts have pushed back against WNBA player Caitlin Clark's booming popularity, suggesting the white phenom's favor overshadows the work of past "black" and "queer" women in the WNBA.

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 2: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever looks on during the game against the New York Liberty during the 2024 Commissioner's Cup game on June 2, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 29: Monica McNutt attends "Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story" New York premiere at WNBPA Offices on January 29, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

By being a skilled white woman, Clark is being accused of overshadowing the influence of black women before her, which McNutt has confidently expressed before on television, doing so again with Jon Stewart on Monday night. 

To McNutt, viewers can't simply tune in to view Clark. it has to be about the minority groups alongside Clark and those that came before the Indiana Fever star.

McNutt spoke on her recent controversy surrounding the WNBA's relevance and Caitlin Clark.

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"The tenor and the prevailing narrative that has been created around this season's WNBA play is that it's the league versus Caitlin Clark, and that is just absolutely false," McNutt said. 

"It is unfair to the women that have been there, building this league to this moment, so that Caitlin Clark's popularity could take it to the next level."

McNutt excluded a mention of Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark's top rival, who's also a rookie and not in the class of women who "built the league."

IOWA CITY, IOWA- FEBRUARY 15:  Guard Caitlin Clark #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes listens as the crowd cheers after breaking the NCAA women's all-time scoring record during the game against the Michigan Wolverines  at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 15, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa.  (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

So whose toes is Caitlin Clark stepping on?

Certainly not Chennedy Carter, the Sky player who hip-checked Clark and gained immediate celebrity over it. Before the hip-check, Carter was toiling for other teams, known more for her volatile behavior than her play.

By now, women in the WNBA, envious of Clark's box-office appeal, opt to gain the notoriety of being her adversary. Many are skeptical that the league's rocketing trajectory with Clark can survive by routinely bad-mouthing and pushing around the star.

The "women who built" the WNBA include former Chicago Sky player Kahleah Copper. 

Copper appeared in a resurfaced video that went viral over the weekend. In the clip, Copper erupts at a reporter for a routine question and abruptly leaves the interview out of annoyance.

Is that what McNutt wants to celebrate over Caitlin Clark?

"And so while Caitlin is fantastic, and I think she's going to have an incredible career in the WNBA, there are women that were worthy of coverage prior to her arriving, and I just will not be silenced when it comes to that," McNutt added.

Clark's popularity has been described as a "rising boat to raise all ships," organically drawing more eyes to WNBA talents.

McNutt's argument is that the those watching the WNBA now have it all wrong by focusing on Clark and should instead focus on the traditional WNBA archetype.

"Black women, a large representation of queer women," Monica told Stewart. 

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 30: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever reacts during the second half against the Seattle Storm in the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 30, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

"The Caitlin Clark Effect" is tossed around the WNBA because it's a proven formula for drawing ratings. But McNutt wants to shift the spotlight away from Clark, looking to "give flowers" to players who objectively have no effect on the WNBA's relevance compared to the Fever star.

The disjointed reasoning was on clear display during a now-infamous "First Take" clip in which McNutt challenged Stephen A. Smith's interest in the women's league. She accused Stephen A. of overlooking coverage of the league until Caitlin Clark appeared.

Stephen A. Smith responded on his YouTube channel, calling McNutt's assertion "ridiculous."

By now, McNutt has the same access to viewership and attendance numbers as anyone with a smartphone in their pocket. Regular-season WNBA games have nearly tripled compared to viewership numbers from last year with Clark on the court. 

CHICAGO, IL -  JUNE 4: Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky shoots a free throw during the game against the New York Liberty on June 4, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Clark's regular season professional debut with the Fever after being the WNBA's first pick of the 2024 draft on ESPN2 drew an average of 2.12 million viewers—the most for a WNBA game since 2001. The average Caitlin Clark WNBA game draws close to 1.1 million viewers, with non-Clark matchups' average falling below 500,000.

On the "Daily Show," McNutt reacted to the backlash against Clark's "snubbing" from the Paris Olympics Team USA selection, suggesting Clark perhaps lacks the skill to make the team. The limited outlook on Clark (questioning the rookie's skill set) overlooked the outcry of including Clark for effect on viewership, which would surely boom if Clark was set to appear in a Team USA jersey. Responding to the "snub," Clark said it gave her a goal to hit for the next Olympic games.

At 22, Caitlin Clark has the potential to make more Olympic teams and win WNBA championships. 

Based on her interviews, Clark deliberately avoids the outside noise, striving to meet the expectations beset by the team that drafted her No. 1 overall and her storied run in Iowa. 

Rather than embrace Clark or root against her like a normal fan, McNutt aims to diminish Clark's impact, chipping away at the WNBA's ability to capitalize on new viewership using her generational appeal.

Rather than lowering the barrier of entry for new WNBA fans, Monica McNutt pushes diversity to the casual and curious viewer. She'd rather the sport be heralded for its perceived social significance rather than a white woman who shoots the ball really, really well.

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