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5 reasons why we love Monica McNutt

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Monica McNutt is a gem. Thanks to her, the basketball analyst and reporter makes headlines a spirited debate with fellow sports analyst Stephen A. Smith and his feelings concerning the culture within the WNBA. The conversation began with a mention of Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter’s foul on Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark in last week’s WNBA game. Soon after, the conversation turned to Smith and his coverage of girls’s sports over time.

“Stephen A, with all due respect, using your platform, if you wanted to, you could have done it three years ago,” McNutt says on the show the query is who’s answerable for women’s sports greater than . “You know you’re my guy, Stephen A. I’m talking to you. I am talking to you. Do not do this. I’m talking to you about the power you have.”

After this vigorous conversation, Smith was left speechless, a rare occurrence for a passionate and theatrical sportscaster. Nevertheless, there’s greater than meets the attention in terms of the PG County resident. Read on for five reasons why we’re rooting for Monica McNutt.

She’s not latest to this, she’s true to it.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Sep 17: Basketball analyst Monica McNutt poses for a photograph during Game 2 of the primary round of the WNBA Playoffs between the Minnesota Lynx and the Connecticut Sun on September 17, 2023 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

As a sportscaster, McNutt brings her experience off the court to her role as a sportscaster. Its popularity within the media grew rapidly, serving as, amongst others, analyst, host, reporter and radio voice for ESPN and MSG Networks.

Her passion is women’s sports.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – MARCH 20: Monica McNutt #20 of the Georgetown Hoyas makes a jump shot against the Princeton Tigers through the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament at Comcast Center on March 20, 2011 in College Park, Maryland. The Hoyas won 65-49. (Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Before he saw her face at New York Knicks games, where McNutt had previously played college basketball as a guard for the team Georgetown Hoyas from 2007-2010.

She cares about representation.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Monica McNutt, Niele Ivey and Jaden Ivey speak through the espnW 2023 NYC Summit on the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge on May 4, 2023 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Even if her exchange with Smith didn’t mean it, McNutt firmly believes that representation matters. Sports media stays largely white and male, and she or he joins only a small list of Black women commentating on sports within the media space. In fact, a 2021 Associated Press Sports Editorial Report found that while black men hold 10.7 percent of reporting positions, black women hold just 1.1 percent.

She embraces her natural hair.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 16: Monica McNutt attends the 2024 NBA Ruffles All-Star Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 16, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

In an interview with McNutt mentioned that one in all her biggest inspirations in sports media was Jemele Hill, who showed herself authentically as herself, along with her natural hair. Whether she’s on the court or live in front of the camera, you may see her rocking her signature natural curls.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 7: (L-R) Monica McNutt, Ari Chambers and LaChina Robinson attend the 4th Annual Sports Power: Celebrating the Most Powerful Women in Sports Brunch on February 7, 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for The Sports Power Brunch)

In addition to her contributions to the world of sports, she also raises the following generation of girls’s basketball players through Grow our gamea non-profit organization that helps little girls construct self-confidence through basketball.


This article was originally published on : www.essence.com

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