Monica McNutt is exactly right: Caitlin Clark and the WNBA can have multiple truths

Monica McNutt grabbed headlines (before Pat McAfee took them right away) on Monday when she left Stephen A. Smith mostly speechless, criticizing the ESPN personality for newly covering women’s hoops when he could have used his platform to do it years ago.

Smith fired back on Monday, but McNutt got a chance to talk more about what she was saying on First Take with an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Nightcap podcast. What she focused on was what she was trying to say about Caitlin Clark and the WNBA, and she’s 100 percent correct about it.

Monica McNutt explaining her side of this morning’s debacle on ESPN

She’s not new to this. She’s true to this

: (Nightcap/YT) pic.twitter.com/V1If0csd8K

— christan (no i), ß (@Snacks4Tweets) June 4, 2024

“What I was frustrated by in our conversation earlier is we can hold more one than truth, y’all,” she said. “The idea of some players being jealous, yes, that probably exists. But I think since Caitlin made her debut, there’s been a large and loud … push that is Caitlin versus the [WNBA]. And that is unfair.”

McNutt went on to point out many NBA players had rough rookie years, and that’s what Clark has to deal with, too, and that’s fair and OK! Other players shouldn’t just let her waltz down the lane and score buckets with ease in gratitude for the growth she’s helping — with others! — bring to the league.

And both those things can be true. It’s just that simple. Well said, Monica.