Perspective: Caitlin Clark isn't the issue at hand.
This game had everyone waiting. It was a fight between two college rivals, Angel Reese from LSU and Caitlin Clark from Iowa, who were meeting for the first time as professionals. But then Chennedy Carter fouled Clark. This foul was controversial and later classified as flagrant. This made for interesting conversations about whether Clark is being targeted unfairly, and if the WNBA should step in.
"I know I'm going to take a few hard hits during the game," said Clark on being targeted. "I'm trying not to let it bother me."
Dave McAfee, on the other hand, loved the controversy. During one of his on-air discussions, he called Clark "the one white girl on the Indiana team who is a star."
McAfee enjoys getting a reaction, and he definitely knows the term "b*tch" is not just describing someone, it's dehumanizing. He even knows this particular disparaging term is used against women more than men.
A few hours after his live show, McAfee apologized for "white b*tch." "I just shouldn't have used it," he admitted. "It's disrespectful toward women and I thought it was a compliment. But people are saying it wasn't. I've apologized to Caitlin too."
However, McAfee continued to make excuses the next day. "I honestly meant it as a compliment," he claimed. "I had no idea the word would create so much noise. It is what it is…"
The damage was done. McAfee's flippant use of the word doesn't change its meaning. This "complement" was dehumanizing, full of misogyny, and there is no male equivalent. Women have reclaimed "b*tch," but men, even ones like McAfee, seem unaware of their privileges.
The WNBA, an established sport league since its 28th season, should not be seeing this level of misunderstanding. While there is no industry standard for how to talk about women athletes, all it takes is responsibility.
This recent buzz, though, is largely due to the popularity generated by Clark's performance. Many sports commentators, especially the ones just tuning in, find it difficult to separate the women's side of a sport from the men's. Some, like Bill Simmons and Ethan Strauss, have trouble remembering the WNBA teams' unique names.
Old-school sportscasters, like Gregg Doyel, have a lot of growing to do when it comes to addressing women athletes. His uncomfortable (to put it mildly) interview with Clark during her post-draft interview highlighted this. His misstep, however, is nothing compared to the lack of basic knowledge displayed by others.
During a WNBA game where Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, two stars of recent college league fame, met for the first time, a flagrant fouled added more drama to the game. The foul transformed into a debate of communication, with some claiming it was unfairly targeted. Dave McAfee, not even a sports commentator, jumped on this scandal. On a non-sports show, he provocatively branded Caitlin Clark as "the one white girl" on the Indiana team and a star.
The controversy caused a firestorm and barely a day later, McAfee made his apologies. "I didn't intend to use 'white b*tch' as an insult," he tweeted. "I have the utmost respect for Caitlin and women, and that shouldn't have been what I chose to call her."
But his remorse was short-lived, as he quickly defended his statement, insisting his intentions were positive. "I was trying to compliment," he said. "I was unaware of the internet backlash until I finished my show, and that's why I felt so wretched."
Unfortunately, the apologies didn't seem to soothe those offended. The derogatory term "b*tch," while reclaimed by women in many contexts, is still a misogynistic insult specifically used against females. These misogynistic terms should not be used by anyone, regardless of intentions.
In a world where professional leagues like WNBA are still trying to find their place in the sun, such remarks by well-known personalities like McAfee are a setback. It's up to the likes of McAfee, and us as an audience, to recognize and change this narrative.
Since this is a 28-season-old sport league, there shouldn't be miscommunications like this. The WNBA deserves better.
New fans, especially, struggle to fully understand the league as they don't have the same exposure to it as they do to their NBA counterparts, but that’s no excuse. They're suddenly hearing about team names they're not used to, like the Indian Fever. However, it's important to remember that these teams are not new, simply they haven't been as loud or marketed as their male counterparts.
The popularity of the 2021 NCAA Women's tournament has drawn many new fans to the sport. Unfortunately, some are finding it challenging to navigate a women's sports league, with sports writers unable to distinguish between the men's and women's sides of the league.
For instance, Bill Simmons and Ethan Strauss caused a stir by mentioning they hoped the WNBA teams could use the same names as their NBA counterparts. "Why force people to learn about 'the Fever'?" Strauss asked. "Couldn't we just call them 'the Pacers'?"
These famous sportscasters should know better. The lack of basic knowledge is an issue, but it is not an excuse to default to an offensive term like "b*tch."
One shining example of a misstep during a press conference was made by Gregg Doyel. He was clueless about how to interact with the youngest WNBA player of note, Caitlin Clark. His bizarre but candid exchange with Clark laid bare his unawareness about women's sports.
The WNBA is evolving and reaching more screens and ears than ever, a testament to the talent and commitment of its players. This recent incident with McAfee is a clear reminder that the sports world needs more education and understanding when it comes to discussing women in sport.
The editorial board of the Chicago Tribune doesn't consist of experienced sports journalists. However, they still made their thoughts known about the incident involving Candace Parker and Liza Carter, comparing Carter's actions towards Parker to "assault."
The paper's sentiment was, "The act by Carter was extremely wrong." It further stated, "In any situation outside of sports, this would be considered assault.... She should have been removed from the game."
These writers missed the flagrant foul by Alyssa Thomas on Angel Reese during the Sun's victory over the Sky, which resulted in Thomas being sent off the court - a flagrant foul 2.
“They aren’t supposed to be nice to me,” Reese said about the hit. “I hope you all know that. They’re not supposed to be nice to me or turn the other cheek because I’m Angel Reese or a rookie.”
The editorial argued that Clark "doesn't deserve the treatment she's been subjected to." She's a talented player, deemed a generational talent who's drawn immense hype to the WNBA. Her striking success off the court, with her signing substantial endorsement deals before even setting foot on the professional court, is undeniable. She's carried the weight of the entire league on her shoulders.
But this isn't elementary school sports or little league soccer. There aren't any participation medals and ice cream cones being handed out. This is a league of giants - the likes of Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson. Had the editorial board asked the paper's own sportswriters before entering this conversation, they would have learned that things done in sports aren't the same as in real life. There's no example of matching outfits in the workplace, pushing past others for personal gain, or believing that wearing puffy gloves makes it acceptable to attack others wearing the same. In sports, there are rules and boundaries, yet these aren't necessarily followed in real life.
If the WNBA's time has come - and it's been a long overdue moment - then those people commenting and diagnosing need to step up their game.
Sit down the doubters and the uninformed. Let the women play basketball.
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The incident with Dave McAfee sparked conversations about the treatment of Caitlin Clark in the WNBA, leading some to question if she's being targeted unfairly. Many were also discussing McAfee's use of the term "white b*tch," with opinions ranging from it being a compliment to it being highly inappropriate and disrespectful.
Despite McAfee's apology and claims of positive intentions, his use of the word "b*tch" continues to be criticized. Many believe that it's a derogatory term with no male equivalent, and it should not be used to describe women, even if intentionally meant as a compliment.
