There’s no denying that Caitlin Clark has built up a massive fan following across the world due to her prowess on WNBA hardwood. And while most will claim it is her generational talent that has made her the superstar she is, ESPN’s Monica McNutt presented a different take back in March 2025.
The analyst claimed that there was another reason why fans and the cultural sphere have latched onto the former University of Iowa star. McNutt’s implication in 2025 that race has played a major factor in CC’s appeal to the masses has now landed her in a pickle, with a number of fans airing criticism.
Monica McNutt Catches Flak for Her Comments on Caitlin Clark
In March 2025, McNutt sat down with Katty Kay of the BBC and broke down what it was like covering Clark during her 2024 rookie season and why she appealed to so many on-lookers.
“For all of the conversation that surrounded her, some which was fair and some which wasn’t, the one thing that I cannot deny is the amount of little girls that were showing up to follow her. Little girls with their parents and the fervor and the energy there.”
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“I think Caitlin represented — some of this to me is not fair to her because it was not anything that she said or what was truly based on her personality, but she was a white girl from the middle of America. And so, she represented a whole lot to a lot of people.”
🚨TRENDING: ESPN analyst Monica McNutt said that little girls are drawn to and have become fans of #WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark because she is white.
“She’s a white Girl.”
This clip has gone viral on social media: pic.twitter.com/Nd3KRoT80E
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) August 22, 2026
Her analysis, while pinpoint in nature, did not sit well with the WNBA world, who believe that race actually has nothing to do with Clark being the WNBA’s biggest superstar. Upon this clip resurfacing on X, several fans took to the platform to voice their disapproval of her take.
“News flash Monica, little girls don’t care about someone’s skin color because they haven’t yet been poisoned by your toxic bulls***,” said one user, livid at the notion that CC’s appeal stems from her skin tone.
News flash Monica, little girls don’t care about someone’s skin color because they haven’t yet been poisoned by your toxic bullshit.
— Habs4Life (@Ripken77) August 22, 2026
Another said, “Imagine if a white analyst said this about a black player. The analyst would be canceled the next day,” while saying it’s just “another day” for McNutt and calling her “tiresome.”
Of course, McNutt continues to be a part of the ESPN team.
Imagine if a white analyst said this about a black player. The analyst would be cancelled the next day. For Monica mcnutt it’s just another day in the office rage baiting. So tiresome
— myrtdog21 (@myrtdog21) August 22, 2026
A self-proclaimed ‘small town’ football play-by-play announcer went off and said,
“What a stupid take, how about because she’s a talented basketball player!!! Why is race in this at all? A’ja Wilson is a talented basketball player who draws in little children to want to play too. Has nothing to do with color and everything to do with talent and skill!!!”
What a stupid take, how about because she’s a talented basketball player!!! Why is race in this at all. A’ja Wilson is a talented basketball player who draws in little children to want to play too. Has nothing to do with color and everything to do with talent and skill!!!…
— AJ (@Chewy92) August 22, 2026
They went on to call McNutt “an idiot” and wanted the ESPN analyst to leave race out of the equation.
One fan simply poked fun at ESPN, saying, “ESPN is trying to dig itself out of the hole by digging even deeper,” followed by a series of laughing emojis and facepalms.
One user took a slightly different angle and actually agreed with McNutt to some extent. They blamed these “little girls” that the ESPN analyst mentioned for liking CC for her skin tone.
“The whites teach racism early, it’s part of who they are. Those little girls are racist, congress should pass a bill requiring racism re calibration in classes. These girls should be labelled racists through a school program and make it a requirement to graduate.”
Unfortunately, for most of these X users who were livid at McNutt for her take, there have been other personalities within the WNBA world who have echoed her sentiments.
A’ja Wilson, in May 2024, said to the Associated Press,
“I think it’s a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say it’s not about black and white, but to me, it is,” when speaking on how she believes CC’s popularity was tied to her race.
She went on to say it “boils” her blood when people claim it’s not about race when she vehemently believes that it is, as she claims her accomplishments get “swept underneath the rug” due to her being a black woman.
CC, however, has been against race being involved in the discourse surrounding her. In June 2024, she said it’s “disappointing” to see people use her name to be racist to WNBA players and called for everybody to get the same amount of respect.
It’s clear that sensitive topics such as these have two sides to every story. Handling them with a sense of care and cultural wherewithal would prove most beneficial.
