It feels like Stephen A. Smith is getting into a public beef with a new person every week.
On Monday’s episode of “First Take,” ESPN’s Monica McNutt was on alongside Smith and Shannon Sharpe to discuss the flagrant foul of Chennedy Carter on Caitlin Clark that has become the topic of the sports world.
McNutt made a point that the women in the WNBA have been playing physically for a long time and that those that are just beginning to follow women’s basketball are unfairly labeling the physicality against Clark.
Smith seemed to take offense to McNutt’s statement as he asked her who talks about the WNBA more than “First Take.”
“Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could have been doing this three years ago if you wanted to,” McNutt said.
This led to an awkward word vomit from all parties that had host Molly Qerim throw the segment to a break.
Stephen A. Smith: “Who talks about the WNBA, who talks about women, who talks about women’s sports more than First Take?”
Monica McNutt: “Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could have been doing this three years ago if you wanted to.”
Stephen A.: “Wow.” pic.twitter.com/szQXOPQ3h4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 3, 2024
Smith addressed the issue on his own show and podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show.” He said that he and McNutt have a great relationship, but pointed toward the diversity, equity, and inclusion of “First Take” by allowing people of color and women to be guests on the show.
“’First Take’ has spearheaded diversity and equity” Smith said. “Do you have any idea how offensive it was for me to sit there and hear Monica McNutt say that about me when I’m the one who handpicked our roster on ‘First Take.’”
Smith also said he wanted to “challenge” anyone to find a show on sports television that covered women sports, women’s issues, and had female analysts on as much as “First Take.”
“I could’ve done less,” Smith said. “Who’s done more? Hell, a legitimate argument could be made that the WNBA wasn’t doing it for themselves.”
Related: Stephen A. Smith defends himself for getting called out — again
Social media did not take kindly to some of Smith’s comments, with some calling him a narcissist and Las Vegas Aces veteran Sydney Colson referring to him as sassy.
The particular portion that was clipped and generated a strong social media reaction to Smith was when he implied that McNutt and other women on ESPN
“I am the executive producer of ‘First Take,’” Smith said. “Have you ever heard of Monica McNutt? You have now because she’s on ‘First Take’ a lot. Chiney Ogwumike, absolutely wonderful, spectacular basketball analyst, etc, etc, WNBA player in her own right. Ask her how it’s been to be on ‘First Take.’ Andraya Carter, who’s a rising star in this business How much did you think ‘First Take’ helped that? How about Kimberly Martin? How about Molly Qerim herself?”
He putting the SAS in SASSY right about now https://t.co/8aOH8oIxxv
— Sydney Colson (@SydJColson) June 4, 2024
Related: All sides of the WNBA’s Caitlin Clark jealousy narrative
McNutt also appeared on a podcast that night to discuss the incident. Ironically, it was “Nightcap,” the show co-hosted by Sharpe. She clarified her statements and said that she didn’t mean for it to be a personal attack on Smith.
“I did not intend to make it personal,” McNutt said. “When I look at Stephen A. and my relationship with Stephen A., he’s the head honcho at ESPN as far as I’m concerned. And I have been in this women’s basketball space for so long and have been privy to many a conversation pushing, and pitching, and asking for space. From where I sit, if SA says, ‘Let’s talk about it,’ it’s going to be discussed.”
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McNutt then added that the two talked it out in private. She said that her point was simply the factual statement that there’s a lot more coverage of the WNBA now than there was three years ago.
“He and I have had a conversation tonight,” McNutt said. “Okay cool, there are things at play that maybe I did not consider when I made that statement. But what I do stand by is that the way that the WNBA is being covered this particular season is at a different fervor and tenor than it was three years ago. Now, whatever factors go into that, be that as it may. But three years ago, we were not having these conversations about the WNBA as we are now, and that is just a fact.”
Monica McNutt: “Surprised by reaction…didn’t intend to make it personal…But Stephen A…head honcho…He & I had conversation tonight…things at play maybe I didn’t consider…But 3 years ago we weren’t having these conversations about WNBA. That’s a fact”pic.twitter.com/VLuE7w6w8V
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 4, 2024
Many folks joked online that McNutt’s reaction to Smith would lead her to lose her spot as a guest on “First Take,” but she appeared on Tuesday’s show to once again discuss the WNBA alongside Smith.
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