The sudden rise in the popularity of the WNBA seems to have caught the usual commentators on television and the internet off guard. For many of them, this a new game, although the league has been around since 1996. But that hasn’t stopped them from making the same kind of “hot takes’’ about players and teams that they have been known for.

It hasn’t gone over so well for some of them. The host of ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” had to apologize after calling WNBA star Caitlin Clark a “white bitch.” He said he meant it as a compliment. Stephen A. Smith, the host of ESPN’s “First Take,” was politely dressed down by a colleague when he attempted to position himself as a supporter of the league. She reminded him that he could’ve done a lot more, if he wanted to. NBA veteran Charles Barkley defended Clark, on a podcast recently, attributing some player criticism of her as “petty jealousy.”

The men making these comments are supposed to be the experts. In time, as the league grows and adjusts to its newfound attention, perhaps their thoughts and opinions will mature as well. For now, when asked about the WNBA, they might want to take a cue from NBA greats like Isaiah Thomas and Arvydas Sabonis — and pass.