STEPHEN A. Smith has blasted Monica McNutt’s comments about his coverage of the WNBA.

The ESPN personalties were involved in a live dust-up on First Take after Smith celebrated the air time he gave to women’s sports.

“Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could have been doing this three years ago if you wanted to,” McNutt fired back to leave Smith stunned.

First Take co-host Molly Qerim stepped in to end the row but Smith is not letting the claim go.

“To address Monica McNutt’s point, I found it very unfortunate that she would say that,” Smith said on his podcast.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am the executive producer of First Take. You ever heard of Monica McNutt? You have now. Because she’s on First Take a lot.

“Chiney Ogwumike, absolutely wonderful, spectacular basketball analyst, ask her how it’s been to be on First Take.

“How about Andraya Carter? Who’s a rising star in this business. How much do you think First Take helped that?

“What about Kimberley Martin? What about Molly Qerim herself?”

“I challenge anybody to find a show on sports television that discusses women’s issues that discuss the WNBA, or women’s sports that highlights and profiles female analysts more than First Take. It’s been going on for years.

“We have black women, we have white women. Mina Kimes, let me not forget to mention her.

“First Take has spearheaded diversity and equity. Do you have any idea how offensive it was for me to sit there and hear Monica McNutt say that about me when I’m the one who hand-picked our roster on ‘First Take?’”

Smith called McNutt’s comment “blatantly false” but also made sure to point out that his colleague was a friend and he was not calling her a liar.

“I’m accusing her of not knowing. Because she’s not a liar, she’s an honorable person,” Smith added.

“She must not have known. The WNBA, could have I done more? Well, guess what, Monica McNutt? I could’ve done less. Who’s done more?

“Hell, a legitimate argument could be made if the WNBA wasn’t doing it for themself.

“The commissioner of the WNBA came on First Take to thank us for what we were doing for the WNBA. Who else was doing it? Where were these people at?”

McNutt also had her say on the Nightcap podcast.

“I, genuinely, was surprised by the reaction. I didn’t intend to make it personal,” she said.

“I have been in this women’s basketball space for so long and have been privy to many a conversation pushing and pitching and asking for space.

“So from where I sit, If S. A. says let’s talk about it, it’s gonna be discussed.

“He and I have had a conversation tonight, OK cool. There are things at play that maybe I did not consider when I made that statement.

“But what I do stand by is that the way that the WNBA is being covered in this particular season is at a different fervour and tenor than it was three years ago

“Now whatever factors go into that, three years ago we were not having these conversations about the WNBA as we are now.”