Caitlin Clark and Pat McAfee are on good terms after McAfee apologized on Monday for calling her a “white bitch” during a discussion about the WNBA on his show.
McAfee addressed the issue on Tuesday’s show, following backlash for his comment about Clark, 22.
“Obviously, that’s a massive f–k-up on my end. I apologize for that. I reached out to Caitlin Clark through the Fever’s PR, sent an apology, and she responded that it was all good. No hard feelings. We move forward. She appreciated the apology. That makes me feel a little bit better. To those who were pissed off and offended, I understand. I learned a lot,” McAfee said.
The controversy arose from McAfee’s Monday show, where he discussed Clark’s game against the Chicago Sky. During the game, veteran Chennedy Carter hip-checked the star rookie.
“I’m not going to comment on the athletes’ behavior on the court. Athletes will be athletes; if they think they can get in your head by physical play or trash talk, they’ll do it,” McAfee said.
McAfee also addressed sports media and former WNBA players, challenging the notion that the WNBA’s rising success and popularity is solely due to the new rookie class. He speculated that Carter’s aggression toward Clark and reactions from rookies like Angel Reese might stem from a belief that Reese deserves more credit than she’s receiving, with Clark getting much of the spotlight.
The segment took a controversial turn when McAfee introduced a presentation about the WNBA, featuring TV ratings, game attendance, and fellow rookies Reese and Cameron Brink. During this, he made the comment about Clark.
“I would like the media to stop saying, ‘This rookie class, this rookie class.’ Just call it what it is: there’s one white bitch for the Indiana team who is a superstar. Is it because she stayed in Iowa and carried a program to multiple years of success?” McAfee said.
Following backlash, McAfee issued an apology on Monday afternoon.
“I shouldn’t have used ‘white bitch’ as a descriptor for Caitlin Clark. No matter the context, even if discussing race as a factor, I have too much respect for her and women to use that term,” McAfee wrote on X. “My intentions were complimentary, as was the entire segment, but many people didn’t see it that way. That’s on me, and I apologize. I have also sent an apology to Caitlin.”
