Former NFL star J.J. Watt has come to the defense of Pat McAfee, following the ESPN host’s controversial comments about WNBA player Caitlin Clark.
On Tuesday, Watt acknowledged that McAfee may have misstepped with his choice of words, but vouched for his character and support for women’s sports.
“I haven’t seen the whole clip,” Watt said. “I would assume Pat—he’s always been extremely complimentary [of women’s sports]. I know he has courtside tickets to the Fever games.”
Watt, who is married to former NWSL and USWNT player Kealia Watt, went on to praise Clark’s impact on the WNBA and the increased attention she has brought to the league.
McAfee made the controversial comments about Clark on Monday
J.J. Watt says Pat McAfee has always been “extremely complimentary” of women’s sports and notes people are learning how to discuss women’s sports “ the right way” after McAfee’s comments about Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/Zrabxvkl7u
— Sports Update (@sports_update) June 4, 2024
“But what [Clark] has been able to do for the sport has been incredible,” Watt continued. “The WNBA dialogue has been everywhere in the past few months, which has been incredible.”
He also highlighted the growth of women’s sports and the ongoing efforts to improve and promote them.
McAfee sparked controversy on Monday when he referred to Clark as a “white b***h” while discussing her recent success and the attention it has brought to the WNBA.
Clark has been in the headlines after a brutal foul by Chennedy Carter
While acknowledging the impact of other rookies, McAfee suggested that Clark’s popularity was being downplayed due to her race.
“There’s one [player] for the Indiana team who is a superstar,” he said. “Is there a chance that people just enjoy watching her play basketball because of how electrifying she is, what she did, what she stood for, how she went about what she went for, maybe.”
McAfee later issued an apology on Twitter, acknowledging that his choice of words was disrespectful and inappropriate.
Watt and McAfee will face each other in an upcoming soccer tournament, with Watt’s Burnley side taking on McAfee’s CONCAFA SC.