Stephen A. Smith and Monica McNutt’s heated exchange on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ has sparked a significant buzz, highlighting the ongoing debate about WNBA coverage.

The confrontation began on Monday morning when Smith and the First Take crew discussed the Caitlin Clark situation in the WNBA. Smith criticized WNBA veterans for roughing up Clark during her rookie season, a remark that didn’t sit well with McNutt. She quickly rebutted, arguing that it was unfair for new fans to critique WNBA players, implying that Smith’s comments were unjust.

Smith, known for his fiery responses, didn’t hold back. “Who talks about the WNBA, who talks about women, who talks about women’s sports more than First Take?” he retorted, defending his and the show’s track record on covering women’s sports.

McNutt wasn’t finished. She shot back with a pointed comment: “With your platform, you could have been doing this 3 years ago if you wanted to.” This left Smith visibly stunned on live television, a rare moment for the usually unflappable host.

Smith fires back on YouTube, defends WNBA coverage

The debate didn’t end there. Smith took to his YouTube show to further address McNutt’s criticism. He suggested that he had played a significant role in elevating McNutt and other WNBA commentators by featuring them on his show. “You ever heard of Monica McNutt?… you have now, because she’s on First Take a lot,” Smith asserted.

Smith also expressed his frustration with the criticism, emphasizing his dedication to covering women’s sports. “I could care less about being attacked; I just want you to be accurate. It is highly offensive to me when somebody implies or flat-out states, like Monica McNutt did this morning, something that is factually incorrect.”

He issued a challenge to his critics: “I challenge anybody to find a show on sports television that discusses women’s issues, that discusses the WNBA or women’s sports, that highlights or profiles female analysts more than First Take.”

Smith’s comments quickly made waves on social media, with many viewers taking sides in the debate. The interaction between Smith and McNutt has brought attention to the passionate discussions surrounding the representation and support of women’s sports in mainstream media.

As the dust settles, it’s clear that the conversation about WNBA coverage is far from over, and figures like Stephen A. Smith and Monica McNutt will continue to play pivotal roles in shaping it.