J.J. Watt responds to Pat McAfee's comments about WNBA star Caitlyn Clark as Burnley co-owner suits up at TST 2024

Both Pat McAfee and J.J. Watt are set to play in The Soccer Tournament 2024, a 7v7 $1m cash prize winner-takes-all tournament in Cary, N.C. The ESPN personality is suiting up for his squad Concafa SC while Watt is repping his Clarets on the pitch.

On Monday on an episode of the Pat McAfee Show, the ESPN host caught negative reaction for referring to WNBA superstar Caitlyn Clark as a "white b***h" in a segment that presumably was intended to be in defense of Clark and the uproar over perceived cheap shots she is receiving as a WNBA rookie.

Immediately, McAfee was criticized by numerous fans, critics and sports personalities across the world on social media for his comment. Later on Monday, the show host did apologize, but it felt to many as though it was too-little too-late.

Watt was asked during his media day press conference at TST if he had any thoughts on the matter, and his friend's comments about Clark. Watt and his wife Kealia, a former NWSL standout, will captain the Clarets in their respective fields at TST 2024.

The Burnley co-owner took the high road, praising Clark for her contribution to the game while highlighting the importance of continuing the conversation around women's sports.

"I haven’t seen the whole clip, but Pat, he’s always been extremely complimentary, he has courtside tickets to the Fever games," Watt said. "What she’s been able to do for the sport has been incredible. The WNBA dialogue has been everywhere in the past few months, which has been incredible.

"I mean, my wife has been an NWSL player since 2012-13, we’ve had many, many conversations about the growth of women’s sports and how and where and when, and the different ways that they can continue to improve - and she's talked so many ways about how they have improved from when she started until now - and how much there is still left to go.

"Those conversations are always fascinating, I really enjoy it but I think seeing more light shine on those sports is always a good thing and I think we’re certainly wading through the waters, trying to do it the right way."

The Clarets and Watt begin their TST 2024 journey Wednesday in Group B action. Matches will be streamed LIVE here and on ESPN+/ESPNU.