The WNBA’s treatment, or lack thereof, of Caitlin Clark is attracting attention for all the wrong reasons. Sure, the league is constantly generating headlines and creating an itch for people like Dave Portnoy to speak up, but when it’s about failing to protect its biggest stars, is that really a win?
Clark has been in and out of the lineup while dealing with a back injury, but her latest appearance involved yet another physical altercation. This time, the incident drew the ire of Portnoy, who’s never afraid to chime in with his two cents.
Dave Portnoy Chastises WNBA for Allowing Mistreatment of Caitlin Clark
Portnoy has developed a reputation for being vocal about all sorts of happenings across the sports world while building up the Barstool Sports brand. He’s not afraid to bark at whoever he wants, especially when he feels his opponent is in the wrong. In this case, he took aim at WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and the league as a whole.
“Are we just gonna keep letting players ASSAULT Caitlin?” Portnoy tweeted Thursday. “I mean, when is enough enough? This is borderline manslaughter in some states! Cathy will not be happy till she’s crippled and outta the league! Have fun flying commercial again!”
Are we just gonna keep letting players ASSAULT Caitlin? I mean when is enough enough? This is borderline manslaughter in some states! Cathy will not be happy till shes crippled and outta the league! Have fun flying commercial again! pic.twitter.com/ZdupUawu2X
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) July 16, 2026
The incident in question came after an apparent missed foul call during the Indiana Fever’s 88-75 home loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday. Clark admitted in her postgame press conference that she got “kneed in the quad.”
The three-time All-Star added, “It hurts. The ref can’t miss that. Then I have to play with a contusion in my leg the rest of the game. It’s ridiculous. You can’t miss calls like that.”
Portnoy is just the latest in a long line of sports figures to be upset with how Clark is treated by the officials, the WNBA commissioner, and her on-court peers. Eventually, something has to give. If not, apparently Congress is ready to step in and make the necessary changes, whatever that may entail.
Hopefully, things won’t continue to deteriorate to the point where someone outside the WNBA has to intervene and get the job done. Ultimately, the game is at its best when the top players are performing at their peak. Having them hobble their way to the finish line isn’t the solution here, and Portnoy wants to see changes too.
