Caitlin Clark fans have been taking shots at Monica McNutt since last month following the ESPN analyst’s seemingly consistent criticism of the Indiana Fever superstar.
When McNutt was unavailable for the network’s “WNBA Countdown” on Tuesday, Clark’s supporters quickly noticed.
Caitlin Clark Fans Applaud Monica McNutt’s Absence From ESPN’s Liberty-Fever Broadcast
McNutt drew criticism from even some non-Clark fans last month after saying the three-time All-Star needed “more accountability and self-awareness.” Her comments came after Clark said during All-Star Weekend that she had been falsely characterized and that some media coverage of her was “so far out of touch with what is reality.”
The tension continued last week after the WNBA rescinded Clark’s eighth technical foul, which initially would have forced her to miss Tuesday’s nationally televised matchup against the New York Liberty.
Clark received the technical after inadvertently bumping into a referee when she was pushed out of bounds during Saturday’s game against the Chicago Sky. McNutt appeared unconvinced by the league’s decision, telling ESPN colleague and former WNBA player Chiney Ogwumike that she had “flashbacks to college” involving a teammate who bumped into a coach.
Those comments added to the ongoing discussion surrounding McNutt’s coverage of Clark, setting the stage for another round of reactions when the analyst was absent from Tuesday’s broadcast.
Without McNutt on “WNBA Countdown” ahead of the Liberty-Fever game, Clark supporters made their feelings known.
“No one missed her,” a Minnesota Vikings correspondent wrote.
“Monica McNutt was missing from WNBA Countdown last night during the Indiana Fever game. Whoever made that decision… just know the people noticed. And we thank you,” a WNBA supporter added.
“Thank you, @espn,” a league observer continued.
“Good. Monica McNutt is unprofessional,” an X user commented.
“It was like Christmas in August,” another Clark fan tweeted.
“WNBA Countdown” is hosted by Malika Andrews, who interviewed Clark during All-Star weekend, and airs on ESPN and ABC ahead of nationally televised games and special events. The program often begins about 30 minutes before tipoff.
That made McNutt’s absence particularly noticeable, with the Liberty-Fever matchup receiving national television coverage. The highly anticipated game drew plenty of attention on its own, but the analyst’s absence quickly became another talking point among Clark’s supporters.
For Clark fans, McNutt’s absence became part of the broadcast story almost as soon as they realized she wasn’t there. The game went on, but the reaction online showed that the analyst’s absence had become a story of its own.
And with Clark continuing to command major attention every time the Fever take the national stage, any ESPN lineup decision involving McNutt is likely to keep drawing scrutiny from an already highly engaged fan base.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.