Caitlin Clark responded to Pat McAfee after he controversially called the WNBA star a ‘white bitch’ during his show on Monday.
McAfee humiliatedly apologized after the insult, which came as he offered a rare defense of the Indiana Fever star in the wake of the harsh treatment he received from Chennedy Carter.
The ESPN broadcaster said in a statement Monday night that it had reached out to Clark to apologize directly. She opened her show on Tuesday saying she had responded.
McAfee said: “Obviously, that’s a big mistake on my part.” I apologize for that.
“I contacted Caitlin Clark through Fever, sent her an apology and then received a message saying everything was fine. Without blood. We move forward. And she appreciates us reaching out and apologizing.
Pat McAfee revealed Caitlin Clark’s response to her ‘white bitch’ comment on Tuesday’s show
Clark has dominated the headlines after taking a brutal foul from Chennedy Carter on Saturday.
‘So that obviously makes me feel a little better. But to the people who were angry and offended yesterday, I understand. I learned a lot.’
McAfee came under fire on social media for the comment about Clark, who has dominated headlines since Chennedy Carter brutally fouled him on Saturday.
The WWE commentator noted how other rookies, such as Angel Reese and Cameron Brink, have boosted the WNBA’s profile, but the league’s rise in popularity is solely due to Clark.
He brought up a series of statistics comparing the three rookies to illustrate that point, but while doing so, he called Clark a ‘white dog,’ which seemed completely unnecessary.
After receiving complaints on social media on Monday, McAfee later took to X to apologize. He posted: ‘Shouldn’t have used “white bitch” as a description of Caitlin Clark.
‘It doesn’t matter the context… even if we talk about race being a reason for some of the things to happen… I have too much respect for her and women to put that into the universe.
The TV host posted a humiliating apology to Clark, saying he has “too much respect for her.”
‘My intentions in saying it were complementary just like the entire segment, but a lot of people say it certainly wasn’t at all. That is 100% my responsibility and for that I apologize… I also sent an apology to Caitlin. Everything else I said… are still all facts.’
Clark Carter tackled him to the ground late in the third quarter of the Fever’s win over the Chicago Sky. on Saturday and has sparked debate over the treatment of Clark since he turned pro.
Clark has consistently been the target of rough treatment from opponents during her rookie season amid accusations of jealousy from other players over her explosive impact on women’s basketball.
Carter insisted Monday night that he has “no regrets” about his actions in addressing the incident directly for the first time.
The 25-year-old appeared to yell “bitch” at the former Iowa star before throwing her to the ground. The Chicago player then refused to answer questions about Clark immediately after Saturday’s loss to the Indiana Fever.
Clark was inexplicably knocked to the ground by Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter.
But after practice Monday, he said, “I don’t regret anything.” “I’m going to compete and play 100 percent hard, no matter who it is or who we play against.”
Carter said he acted in the “heat of the moment” and was simply retaliating.
The footage appears to show Clark catching the guard with her elbow moments before she was knocked to the ground.
“I think I got hit in the head on the previous play and it was one of those things that happened in the heat of the moment. I don’t know Caitlin. I don’t know her from anyone, but at the end of the day this is basketball, it’s competitive,” said.
‘This is basketball, if you play against someone like me, I classify myself as a guy. So if you’re going to throw a punch, I’m going to compete with you.
Added Carter: ‘When we’re inside those four lines, it’s smoke. After it’s all love… we don’t hit her like she’s in the street. It’s just basketball.’
The Chicago player addressed the incident directly for the first time after practice on Monday.
The 25-year-old, who received an endorsement from Whoopi Goldberg on Monday, was asked if she now accepted that her actions had crossed a line.
Even Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon publicly criticized the play, insisting it was “not appropriate.”
“She and I have discussed what happened and that it was not appropriate, nor what we do or who we are,” Weatherspoon said.
But Carter insisted: ‘There is no line. I’m competing. I’m going to compete… if you’re going to throw punches first, I’m going to compete. It’s all love. It’s basketball.
‘This happens in the NBA. Actually, now I’m focused on New York (Liberty), I’m not really focused on that play anymore. It happened… it’s over.’