Pat McAfee Apologizes To Caitlin Clark For Calling Her A ‘White B—-‘ On His Show

In an incident on Monday, ESPN personality Pat McAfee faced criticism for referring to Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark as a “white b—-” on his show. 

McAfee wrote in a post on X, “I shouldn’t have used ‘white b—-‘ as a descriptor of Caitlin Clark. No matter the context… even if we’re talking about race being a reason for some of the stuff happening. I have way too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe.”

He continued, “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. That’s 100% on me, and for that, I apologize… I have sent an apology to Caitlin as well.”

In his show on Monday, McAfee had pointed toward the continued increase in the attention paid to the WNBA and argued a disproportionate credit was due to Clark, at least among her 2024 draft peers, saying that “there’s one white b—- for the Indiana team who is a superstar.”

The WNBA has indeed seen a surge in attention and viewership in recent years. The 2024 draft broadcast set a viewership record, and Fever broadcasts are drawing large audiences, but these trends are not isolated to Clark and the Indiana team.

Viewership for WNBA national TV games increased by 21% in 2023, and attendance was at its highest since 2008. The Los Angeles Sparks are experiencing an attendance bump, thanks partly to the arrival of second-overall pick Cameron Brink, who has showcased her immense potential. 

The WNBA’s growing popularity is a multifaceted phenomenon driven by the contributions of numerous talented players across the league. 

Clark has been involved in several strange incidents in recent weeks. Last month, an Indianapolis Star reporter was suspended for making inappropriate comments about Clark at a press conference.