← The Stephen A. Smith Show
The Stephen A. Smith Show
Interview Only: Stephen A and ESPN's Monica McNutt recap WNBA games and NBA playoffs.
00:18:42
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- [00:00]
Stephen A. Smith
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- [00:40]
Monica McNutt
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- [01:43]
Stephen A. Smith
We'Re going to get started in the WNBA with a new season tipped off this weekend with several marquee matchups on the slate, most fans were excited to see the Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever take on Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. The game was a blowout as the Fever beat down Chicago 93 58, with Clark's triple double leading the way. But the biggest headline coming out of the game on Saturday is the investigation the WNBA is conducting an allegations of hateful fan comments directed at Adri. It happened after this play when Clark slapped at the ball after Reese grabbed an offensive rebound and had a clear path to the basketball. Reese fell to the court, got back up and tried to confront Clark, but Fever forward Aaliyah Boston got between the two women. Clark's foul was upgraded to a flagrant one and Reese and Boston were assessed technical fouls. Here's a statement from Sky CEO Adam Fox on fans who seemed a bit unruly following the incident. Quote we welcome the WNBA's investigation of allegations of fan misconduct during our first game of the season. We will do everything in our power to protect Chicago sky players and we encourage the league to continue taking meaningful Steps to create a safe environment for all WNB players. End quote. Joining me now to discuss this is a basketball analyst for ESPN and the MSG Network. She played college basketball for the Georgetown Hoyas. That's Hor. Hoya paranoia for those of you who don't know. By the way, and her jump shot, I must confess, it looks better than mine. It's pretty money right there. Pretty money right there. Please welcome the one and only Monica McNutt to the show, who I affectionately call Eminem. What's going on, girl? How you doing? How's everything?
- [03:15]
Monica McNutt
Good. I say I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. Yeah, we gotta talk.
- [03:19]
Stephen A. Smith
We. We gotta talk. But you know me, I'm a vlf just a little bit, you know, how's the hubby? How's the married life? I know you got married a few months ago. Stuff like how's the life?
- [03:28]
Monica McNutt
It's lots of loving and learning.
- [03:34]
Stephen A. Smith
That's a great answer. That's a damn great answer. I got to give it to you. No doubt about that. Let's get right into it. This whole Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark brouhaha. What do you make of it from a basketball perspective? First, I'll get to the other stuff later.
- [03:50]
Monica McNutt
Your thoughts, Basketball essay. It's a basketball play. I mean, as much as the W has been elevated to all of these platforms, we've all pointed out that it is physical. Right. I thought it was adjudicated appropriately by the officials. There's a push to Natasha Howard first. To me, it appears that Kaitlyn takes exception to that and angel takes exceptions to the foul. I think both sides are fine here because to me, when we talk about competition, you cannot parse out the emotion of that experience. And so I thought it was adjudicated correctly. I thought both young women were cool post game in terms of their explanations, or as Angel Reese said, it's a basketball play. Let's move on. It is unfortunate that I think this is sort of blown out of context because it is a play that is common throughout the wnba. Earlier today on First Take, Janae highlighted two other games that have very similar play because competing is an emotional experience. And that's okay.
- [04:44]
Stephen A. Smith
I'm gonna elaborate a little bit more on that in just a second, but before I do that, I want to ask you your thoughts about apparently some racial animus that was thrown in the direction of Adri. The Chicago sky have gotten involved, talking about they're going to protect their players at all cost. The NWNBA has issued a statement saying it abhors and discourages hate of any kind, et cetera, et cetera. Your thoughts about it? Here's the WNBA statement. The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms. They have no place in our league or in society. We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter. Your thoughts about that element of all of this, where you believe it emanates from, and do you think it will ever subside?
- [05:27]
Monica McNutt
Oh, man. The latter part of that, Stephen A. Is quite the thing to think on. I think. When you go back to the impetus of the rivalry that we have between Caitlin and Andrew Reese, I remember funny clips on the Internet about two different Americas based on the music that was being played in the Iowa locker room versus the LSU locker room. And I think at the heart of it is an issue with being able to appreciate and celebrate the humanity and the athletic accomplishments of both of these women.
- [05:56]
Stephen A. Smith
Right.
- [05:56]
Monica McNutt
Right. I do not think that all Indiana fans or all Caitlin Clark fans represent any one particular belief. But it's been clear over the last couple of years that there is a sect of folks that root for her that have used her to push their agendas. I don't think Caitlin Clark has any issue, colleagues or the other women in the wnba. I think between she and Angel Reese, there is mutual respect. But anytime these conversations hit the mainstream. Right. It's easy to see that Caitlin is usually portrayed as the victim and angel is usually portrayed as the villain. And that is rooted in my observation. Somebody could tell me I'm wrong, but it is rooted in my observation and the racial identity of these women and where they come from.
- [06:36]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I have something to say to you, Monica McNutt, that I think will be of incredible relief to you. I have no desire to debate you on this platform. On this platform, I am giving you the floor and allowing you to educate me and my audience. I am completely at your mercy in that reg. I'm simply asking the questions. But I'll ask you this in all seriousness. What is your bigger concern when you highlight that Angel Reese, like Caitlin Clark, is usually the victim, Angel Reese is usually the villain? Is that your primary concern or is it this seemingly innate belief that people have that men can conduct themselves any way they want to, but women are supposed to operate under certain lines? I listen to you and Shanae and Andrea talk about these kind constantly and I really want to know what's the bigger concern in your eyes, you know.
- [07:31]
Monica McNutt
Essay as this one has unfolded. Malika and I were on the Countdown desk for halftime with this one and literally, as it's unfolded, I'm like, we'll see how this one plays out in the media, right? And I have grappled with two things being true, right? In that women should be allowed to compete in the same way that men are, but also because to me, the sensitivity of the humans that make up the wnba, they deserve an extra level of protection. And I know that to a degree you might say, man, you can't have it both ways. But I think that's probably why we are at odds in the larger picture, because people don't have room for multiple ideas or even feelings to coexist. Right. And so to your point, I think with time, the younger generation appreciates competition. I think women's sports is growing across the board. I think the competition piece will become commonplace and be accepted and celebrated. But to your point, I am struggling with some of the vitriol, not some with the vitriol that has come to an angel Reese just to represent a swath of players who have had this experience being on the opposite side of interactions with Caitlin Clark. Right. And I don't blame Clark at all. And I am really sort of befuddled at the solution because on the NBA side, if a player points to a fan in the stands and says, that was inappropriate, the NBA, the officials, they move, those folks are usually taken out, Right? I'm not sure if the WNBA is there and there still is a learning curve, but I 100% believe essay that these women should feel safe to compete and be protected from insanity. Right. And I'm not saying you don't get rippled, but there is a line in sports, and to act like that doesn't exist is just ridiculous to me.
- [09:18]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I. First of all, I think I want to make sure that we're clear because I don't think we disagree as much as you have thought in the past or others have thought. I completely am aligned with you and your thinking. I think that where we. We separate to some degree is that it's understanding it ain't gonna happen the way we like it. Like it's unfair and it's wrong.
- [09:40]
Monica McNutt
We.
- [09:40]
Stephen A. Smith
We are aligned in that. But then I veer left from Monica or Shanae or anybody else when I'm saying, ladies, it ain't gonna change. It ain't right. It's not fair, but it's not gonna change. And oh, by the way, there's an advantage to peel from all of this because it contributes to the elevated popularity of the sport. So guess what? Sometimes it might be good not to really, really mind. I know it's hard. I know this is hard to. To accept, but sometimes it might not be hard. It might not be bad to accept the role of a pariah to some degree. You know why?
- [10:15]
Monica McNutt
Because.
- [10:15]
Stephen A. Smith
Because who's usually listened to, it's usually the pariahs. It's usually when people are polarizing, when people can be in your face, when people make you uncomfortable, that's who an audience gravitates to. And what happens is, is that if you have positive things for folks that to peel from that to edify themselves, it can end up being advantageous. So let's not get caught up in the wrong because we know they wrong and we know they ain't going to change. Let's pay more attention to what we can peel from it. That's where I'm coming from. To that you say what?
- [10:47]
Monica McNutt
And I understand that. I just, and I have not personally been in a game versus Clark or versus Indiana. I can tell you what my mentions look like every time we have a conversation about it. Right. I do understand where you are coming from, but I just wonder, you know, last year, folks showing up to team buses and team hotels, like, I just. My concern is how far does this go, right? Because for someone to heckle in the audience and cross a line verbally or even across the line on the Internet, that's one step, right? But if you are that committed to that, how many steps are you away from really crossing the line and safety is a concern, does that make sense to you?
- [11:33]
Stephen A. Smith
Total sense. You're absolutely right. I mean, as a guys, you got to worry about it too. And, and I think that for the ladies, what I would say to you is that we need to be significantly more concerned when men are trying to cross the barriers and getting ladies faces as opposed to ladies getting another lady's face. In other words, dudes got to deal with dudes, ladies got to deal with ladies. But when you that punk dude that's trying to deal with the women that way, we all need to deal with you on that level. You see, that's how I'm looking at it. But you're absolutely right. I can't, I can't knock you for that. Do you think that that WNBA can end up elevating even more because of the attention this kind of stuff might bring from a competitive fervor standpoint?
- [12:17]
Monica McNutt
You know, I say, and again, I am making space for multiple emotions in my experience as the W continues to move into the spotlight. Fair, yes, but at what cost? Right?
- [12:30]
Stephen A. Smith
Okay.
- [12:32]
Monica McNutt
You want people to come and love the league. If Kayla becomes your favorite player, amazing. If angel becomes your favorite player, amazing. If it's Asia Wilson, if it's Nafisa Collar, if it's Brianna Stewart, amazing. Amazing. Amazing. I. I just. I feel that the league, and we've kind of seen this in maybe missteps and conversations last season, the league has a responsibility to. All right. And I don't know. I don't know how they navigate this idea of a responsibility to. All the statements are great, right? I say this one. This one boggles my mind, because if we can have this conversation and then put a button on it and then get to how great the games were and the top three opening weekend experiences or performances, right? That's one thing. But I think to your point, the people that allowed us about this stuff, the conversation stops there for them. There is no depth in terms of appreciating the league at large. And honestly, like, outside of. Caitlin is great. Like I mentioned to you as we started this conversation, she's used for whatever agenda folks have. And so I think for the. For the league to really grow, it's not controversial topics. It's being able to celebrate the beauty of the game. And that includes Caitlin and the Indiana Fever. Right. Who are going to have a real chance to contend this year for a title. So I don't know. I don't know if.
- [13:52]
Stephen A. Smith
No doubt about that for good in.
- [13:55]
Monica McNutt
Terms of these kind of conversations being good for the game.
- [13:59]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I would say to you, though, I think that when it provokes conversation like we had this morning, when the world gets to hear Monica McNutt and it gets to hear Shanae Ogumike elaborate extensively not just on what the league is, but what it aspires to be and how we all can serve a role in embracing the good and alienating the insidious nonsense that don't need to be a part of the league, that may be the best hope that the league and all of us from a societal perspective have in order to make things exactly what you think they should be. Eminem, maybe that's what the answer to this is.
- [14:41]
Monica McNutt
And you know what? I. I will give you credence. But like I said to you, also in our show, we highlighted great performances, right? And so I'm just. I think, I guess if we had to go with that being a positive, you hope folks come at it with a willingness to hear. You ultimately may not agree, but I think we have to hold space for one another's experiences, you know, What I mean, like, as this thing went through last year, you know, I talked to folks that felt like they were alienated because it almost seemed like to be a Caitlin Clark fan was a bad thing. And that was never what was said. If that is the sentiment of some folks, that's unfortunate. But I do think again, as much as we want to make sport about sport, and that is beautiful, these women can shoot, dribble, rebound, all of that, we still have to acknowledge the society in the existence of the beings that we're talking about and that will always find its way into the conversation.
- [15:29]
Stephen A. Smith
Well, I got to give you credit where credit is due. I think part of the solution also is people like myself and other male commentators being a bit more deferential to y' all when it comes to the wnba. Because, damn it, y' all know more about it than us. Y' all know more about the experiences than us. You damn sure know more about being a woman than we'll ever know. So therefore all of those things come into play. Let me get to one, two last questions before I let you go and thank you so much for your time. Let's get to the product on the field. That was a 93 to 58 beat down. Is Indiana that good or the sky that damn bad? How about that question, Eminem?
- [16:07]
Monica McNutt
I think it's somewhere in the middle. I do believe that Indiana legitimately has a chance to be one of the last four teams standing. The moves that they made this all season. Caitlin coming in as a rookie last year, blowing records to smithereens, getting stronger this summer. I think at one point during the game her, her arms was a trending topic because you could see her gains in the gym. Indiana is going to have a chance to compete for real. I think I'm going to give about 40% of that performance to opening weekend nerves. Chicago is in a position to rebuild. Tyler Marsh is terrific. He has been a part of the Aces championship as a part of Becky Hammond's staff. But they are figuring it out. They are sort of in a rebuild. Indiana, they made the moves this summer that needed to be made. They went and got a coach and Stephanie White that has been to the WNBA finals in the last two seasons. They went and got the leagues. I believe she's top three on the list. She tied Tina Thompson in terms of all time scoring and Dewana Bonner, they added Natasha Howard. They're in it. Indiana is really, really in it. And so, and dejana Bona only has seven points in that game. I say like she didn't even get cooking yet. So Indiana is really in it. I think the sky are building. I think they'll be better than what they showed in Game one. But the sky in a different position than the Fever are for sure.
- [17:20]
Stephen A. Smith
And, and, and the team to beat in the WNBA is whom is it? The Liberty? Is it the Aces coming back trying to avenge? Who's it? Who is it?
- [17:30]
Monica McNutt
The Liberty. The Liberty. Because we talk about big moves this offseason. Natasha Clow is a big move for the already champions, right? She won a title in D.C. with the Mystics. She adds a dimension defensively that I don't know they had outside of Benijah Laney on the wing. Bany Hamilton is actually out this season with the knee injury. So yeah, Natasha Clow is a big difference maker offensively and defensively. I would say, though, don't sleep on the Minnesota Links. Shell Reeve has a track record. Every other she gets to the finals might lose, but comes back the next year and wins and they were in the finals last year and lost. And I think Nafisa Collier has a real shot at MVP this year as well.
- [18:08]
Stephen A. Smith
And they got, they got vengeance on their mind because they felt they were robbed last year by the Liberty with some. You know, I get that part as well. Switching to the NBA before I let you get out of here, Ms. Radio Voice Color Commentary Extra. Color Commentator Extraordinaire for MSG with Knicks games or whatever. Knicks in the conference finals. I mean, I mean, Liberty ain't the only one that got, you know, they got a championship, but the Knicks got a shot. How much of a shot, Eminem? How much of a shot do you give the Knicks to get to the finals and ultimately to win it? Last question.
- [18:37]
Monica McNutt
I'll say I got the Knicks getting out of this series in seven games.
- [18:42]
Stephen A. Smith
So do I.
- [18:42]
Monica McNutt
They got to stay healthy. They've got to control the pace. And that doesn't necessarily mean that they need to slow it down and be ISO all in the half court. But then they need to be deliberate about their opportunities to run and deliberate about their opportunities to execute quickly in the half court. If they find themselves chasing Indiana. I don't like it. I think Indiana is really, really good. I take nothing away from that group. Tyrese Halibur and Pascal Siakam. I think Andrew Nemhardt and Nismith don't get enough credit in terms of their defensive versatility on the wing.
- [19:14]
Stephen A. Smith
Totally agree.
- [19:16]
Monica McNutt
This is going to be a slugfest and it's really going to be the battle of styles in it. So, yeah, like, they're deep, they're fast. I really enjoyed the opportunities I've had to chat with Coach Carlisle. I had one of their games versus the Milwaukee Bucks in that series. I don't. You can look at Cleveland, the Cleveland series, and say, all right, well, they were hurt, and I think that's fair. But I still don't take anything away. Just like the Knicks, they had to make the most of the mishaps that the Celtics made. Indiana made the most of the mishaps for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and I don't take anything away from them.
- [19:50]
Stephen A. Smith
Eminem, I appreciate you so much. Thank you so much. I could just say thank you, but you know me, I'm gonna do a little extra.
- [19:55]
Monica McNutt
Come on.
- [19:56]
Stephen A. Smith
Thank you so much. Thanks a lot. Take it easy. All right. I'll see you soon.
- [20:02]
Monica McNutt
Okay?
- [20:03]
Stephen A. Smith
The one and only Monica McNutt in the house right here on the Stephen A. Smith Show. She's special, special talent for us. Really, really appreciate her taking time out of busy schedule. She didn't have to do that. So I really, really am thankful for. She's a great girl. Great analyst, by the way, doing big things. Proud to call her a colleague.
- [20:22]
Monica McNutt
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- [21:00]
Stephen A. Smith
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- [21:01]
Monica McNutt
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- [21:18]
Stephen A. Smith
VGW Group void where prohibited by law 21/ terms and conditions apply. You're listening to an Iheart podcast.