Barstool Sports president Dave Portnoy has launched a blistering attack on the WNBA's social media team, accusing the league of deliberately snubbing Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark in a promotional graphic for a Sunday doubleheader.
The Controversial Graphic
The official WNBA account posted a graphic highlighting two games: the Las Vegas Aces versus the Atlanta Dream, and the contest between the Fever and the Seattle Storm. On the left side, the graphic featured Aces star A'ja Wilson and Dream newcomer Angel Reese. However, the right side showed former South Carolina teammates Zia Cooke of the Storm and Fever rookie Raven Johnson, rather than Clark.
Portnoy, known for his outspoken commentary, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his outrage. 'If this is real and I think it is this is the most idiotic promo I’ve ever seen in sports,' he tweeted. 'There is no conclusion to make other than the @WNBA hates Caitlin Clark by today’s marketing decision.'
Portnoy's Tirade
In a follow-up video, Portnoy elaborated: 'I like Raven Johnson. But to not put Caitlin Clark on every graphic for every Fever game is literally the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. Would you ever promote a Lakers game without LeBron? Spurs without Wemby? OKC without SGA? It’s so intentional I can’t wrap my brain around it. How can this league be so god damn stupid?'
He continued, 'Now, I like Raven Johnson. She brings toughness, good D. I'm happy with the pick. She was a bear at South Carolina. She also averages 1 point a game, doesn't get a ton of burn. Caitlin Clark, by the way, just put up 30, had the whole sports world talking. Caitlin Clark is the face of your league and she's not on the graphic. You have Raven Johnson and not Caitlin on that.'
Portnoy concluded: 'To go with Raven Johnson, a rookie who averages 1 point a game and does nothing, that is so intentional. Whoever did that on the WNBA, who's running their account, you have to fire them. You are openly saying we hate Caitlin Clark, we hate her fans, we don't want you... you got us all this millions, Caitlin, and the private jets and all that stuff, but we f***ing hate you. Who did that? Fire 'em, WNBA.'
Game Performance
After the game tipped off, Johnson played a career-high 17 minutes off the bench but took only one shot (which she missed), finishing with no points, three rebounds, an assist, and a block. In contrast, Clark led the Fever in points (21), rebounds (7), assists (10), and blocks (2), steering Indiana to an 89-78 victory over the Storm. Despite committing a game-high five turnovers, Clark continued her hot form, just days after dropping 32 points in an overtime loss to the Washington Mystics.
Clark and the Fever next play on Wednesday when they host the Portland Fire.
