• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Monica McNutt Reflects on Viral Stephen A. Smith Exchange 10 Months Later

ESPN basketball analyst Monica McNutt admitted she is “still learning how to navigate” discussing the sensitivities of women’s sports, and referenced a heated viral exchange with Stephen A. Smith from last year. 

Monica McNutt
Photo credit: FOS

Monica McNutt says she’s still “learning how to navigate” discussing the sensitivities of women’s sports. 

McNutt appeared at a Front Office Sports Courtside Collective event on a panel alongside Unrivaled commissioner Micky Lawyer and ESPN marketing SVP Jo Fox during the Women’s Final Four in Tampa this past weekend. 

FOS editor-in-chief Dan Roberts asked if the approach to talking about men’s and women’s basketball is the same, or if she treats the two differently. In her answer, McNutt brought up a viral moment from First Take last year in which she got into it with Stephen A. Smith last June. 

“This is one I’m still learning and dancing around, if I’m honest. I mean, y’all saw the moment last year,” McNutt said, referring to the exchange with Smith. 

“This is layered for me because the existence of women at large, outside of sport, is just challenge. That is the nature of our experience and our society today. So am I sensitive to word choices and descriptions about certain women? Yes. Does that mean that I cannot talk about basketball and acknowledge how we are all moving this thing forward together? No. But there is a sensitivity for me when it comes to women’s sports that I don’t necessarily have around men’s sports, and I am, in real-time, learning how to navigate that.” 

McNutt continued, “I don’t think that that disables my ability as a journalist, but I fully understand how powerful words are, right? With that in mind, I think I can go in and tell you X’s and O’s and who’s better off the dribble and who’s shooting, and that’s great, but that is something that is constantly in the back of my mind as I’m doing the work in women’s sports.”

The heated exchange with Smith last year (Shannon Sharpe was also part of the segment) came amid debate about whether WNBA players were unfairly targeting Caitlin Clark in the context of when she was flagrant-fouled by then-Sky guard Chennedy Carter. 

“Who talks about the WNBA, who talks about women, who talks about women’s sports more than First Take?” Smith asked.

McNutt responded, “Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could have been doing this three years ago if you wanted to.” 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

WNBA’s Fire Prematurely Announce Head Coach Hire on LinkedIn

Portland is expected to hire Alex Sarama from the Cavaliers, FOS confirmed.
Oct 10, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with teammates after game four of the 2025 WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center.

WNBA Finals Draws 1.5M Viewers, Second-Highest Series on ESPN

The four-game series averaged 1.5 million viewers.
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the first quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the Texas Longhorns at Amalie Arena.

Dawn Staley Says NBA Far From Ready to Hire a Female Head..

South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach interviewed with the Knicks.
Mat Ishbia

Mat Ishbia Countersues Suns Minority Owners in Transparency Fight

He claims two minority partners are manufacturing a “contrived legal drama.”

Featured Today

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
MLS

MLS Publishes Unchecked AI-Generated Game Recaps

Humans are not reviewing the articles for accuracy.
Sep 5, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia embraces after their match in the semifinal of the men’s singles at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
October 13, 2025

Six Kings Slam Returns With Record $6M Prize, Netflix Deal

The Six Kings Slam is held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Micah Parsons
exclusive
October 14, 2025

NFL Scorigami Creator Blames Glitches on Twitter Platform Changes

The bot has been glitching all NFL season, and fans have noticed.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the NBA logo and NBA app logo and basketballs in front of the base during warms up before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Suns at the American Airlines Center.
October 13, 2025

NBA Will Take Over League Pass After WBD Divorce

The league now has full operational control of those media assets.
Aces
October 10, 2025

WNBA Finals Most Viewed In 25 Years Despite Possible Aces Sweep

Games 2 and 3 have averaged more than 1.2 million viewers.
Spectrum
October 10, 2025

ESPN Streaming Service at Core of New Spectrum Plan

The No. 1 U.S. distributor further blends linear and streaming TV.
exclusive
October 10, 2025

Alyssa Lang Joins ESPN NBA Sideline Reporter Ranks

Lang has been a host and reporter for ESPN and SEC Network since 2018.