ESPN Analyst Left Completely Stunned by ‘Mad Dog’ Russo’s Take on Major WNBA Feud
ESPN analyst Monica McNutt was dumbfounded by Chris “Mad Dog” Russo’s assessment of the ongoing feud between WNBA players and its leadership.
On Tuesday, Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier began her exit interview with a blistering statement criticizing WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. In the statement, Collier accused Engelbert and league leadership as a whole of disregarding player safety and refusing to pay players what they believe they’ve worth. Throughout the season, the players union and the league have had unsuccessful negotiations to reach a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and avoid a lockout next season.
Collier also called out league officiating, which has been a sore point all season. Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve was actually suspended for the team’s final game after she berated a ref on the court and later criticized them in the post-game press conference.
On Wednesday’s episode of First Take, Russo was not sympathetic to Collier’s statement. Instead, he argued that the statement would have never been made if the Lynx had won their playoff series:
And Collier, in her response, said, “This is about not Ws and losses.” Yes, it is, because you put your statement out after you lost when your coach, right here, Reeve — the most disgraceful thing I have seen in 50 years of watching basketball. Cursing out fans, walking out of the gym, going into the media room and killing the officials — when the official got the call right!
I was in a real building with Pat Riley with the Lakers against the Celtics with [Kurt Rambis]. I was there when Pat Riley got burned with Hue Hollins on a call by Hubert Davis, the Celtics, which gave the Bulls wins. That was an incredibly horrendous decision… terrible, terrible job by Reeve! She should apologize for garbage, ridiculous behavior!
As Russo spoke, McNutt gave several facial expressions that made it clear she was completely fed up with his take on the matter. When she finally spoke, she made sure to confront him on it:
I completely disagree that this statement was in any way connected to the fact that they lost. In fact, should the Lynx have made it to the Finals, should the Lynx have possibly been the Finals champion ultimately, I still think that based on what is happening currently and who Napheesa Collier is — working closely with Nneka Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart, the entire WNBA players union — this statement was still probably going to come at some point.
Watch above via ESPN
