Caitlin Clark recently described the discourse surrounding her as “emotionally exhausting” and “draining.” She faces intense criticism and blame from many people in and around the WNBA, and most narratives involving her tend to get politicized.
Right after Clark opened up about this, ESPN’s Monica McNutt put the blame back on the Indiana Fever star, calling out her “accountability and self-awareness” and “her role in the larger sisterhood” of the WNBA.
Understandably, McNutt’s comments did not sit well with Clark’s supporters and the WNBA world. In fact, some even called for ESPN to fire her.
Monica McNutt Faces Major Backlash for Controversial Caitlin Clark Comments
Clark revealed how emotionally exhausting the coverage of her can be, but McNutt didn’t show any sympathy for the Fever star.
“Caitlin Clark is 24. She is a shining star in the galaxy of the WNBA, but I do think as she continues to matriculate through this league, there’s room for a little bit more accountability and self-awareness in terms of her role in the larger sisterhood, if she sees it that way, in the WNBA,” McNutt said.
Her comments did not go over well with some in the WNBA world, with some calling for her job.
Outkick’s Bobby Burack spent the last week reporting on ESPN’s recent layoffs to Ryan Clark, Cam Newton, David Lloyd, Bart Scott, and others. Now, he’s calling for McNutt to be the next to go.
“@McNuttMonica should definitely be the next person ESPN fires. She has a clear issue with white women, doesn’t know who Barry Sanders is, has a weird attitude, and isn’t good on TV. She wants to be the female Ryan Clark,” he wrote.
.@McNuttMonica should definitely be the next person ESPN fires.
She has a clear issue with white women, doesn’t know who Barry Sanders is, has a weird attitude, and isn’t good on TV.
She wants to be the female Ryan Clark. https://t.co/1IMACpO8d5
— Bobby Burack (@burackbobby_) July 27, 2026
One WNBA content creator agreed, stating these comments should be the final straw for McNutt at ESPN.
“Monica McNutt essentially blaming Caitlin on everything that happens around her and demanding accountability 1 week after the Emmett Till article… Her days are numbered with the current layoffs at ESPN,” he wrote.
The harshest criticism, though, came from one of Clark’s strongest supporters. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy went on a lengthy tirade against McNutt and the larger commentary against Clark.
“You have Monica McNutt come on ESPN right after and blame basically Caitlin for everything that is happening,” he said. “That also is fireable to me.” Specifically, he argued that the fault doesn’t lie with Clark at all.
“Caitlin Clark hasn’t asked for any of this. Caitlin Clark has never said she’s the face of the league,” he added. “Caitlin Clark has never made anything about race. The only thing that Caitlin Clark happens to be is white and plays a very different brand of basketball.”
Bringing it back to McNutt, he claimed, “To act like people aren’t saying ridiculously racist stuff to her and that she lives in a world that is somehow not 100 times the controversy that these other players are dealing with is so obscene from Monica McNutt. Shame on her for somehow once again blaming Caitlin Clark.”
All Caitlin Clark has ever done is advocate for the WNBA, and all the league and the media has done is treat her like dirt pic.twitter.com/3eAX1KtAXn
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) July 27, 2026
Former Sports Illustrated writer Rosalina Lee explained the problem with McNutt’s coverage.
“Monica McNutt is clinging onto a dying narrative. The more this tired (and misrepresented) take gets recycled, the less people take this type of media seriously,” she wrote.
Monica McNutt is clinging onto a dying narrative. The more this tired (and misrepresented) take gets recycled, the less people take this type of media seriously pic.twitter.com/aZ80p71dvI
— Rosalina Lee (@YoitsRosie) July 27, 2026
Burack wasn’t the only analyst to compare McNutt to Ryan Clark.
“ESPN’s female Ryan Clark, Monica McNutt, threw shade at Caitlin Clark, saying she needs ‘accountability’ & ‘self awareness’, insinuating Clark is an immature 24-year-old. Asinine statement,” Jon Root wrote on X.
One influencer chimed in, arguing that this isn’t real journalism.
“Monica McNutt hears Caitlin Clark explain that the media’s false characterizations are emotionally exhausting… and immediately responds by falsely characterizing her again,” they wrote. “You cannot parody this level of arrogance. ESPN isn’t covering Caitlin Clark anymore. It’s manufacturing a fictional version of her, attacking that fiction, and calling it analysis. This isn’t journalism.”
Former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz also called out McNutt and the WNBA media as a whole.
“It’s just obvious that ppl covering the league just don’t like Clark,” he said. “The standard to which they expect from her is just not attainable, and nothing she does will ever be enough.”
It’s worth noting that the recent wave of ESPN layoffs is reportedly over, so it appears McNutt’s job is safe for now.
