Dave Portnoy thinks WNBA ‘s–t on’ Caitlin Clark with racism investigation after Angel Reese drama

ential racist abuse directed at Reese. While many applauded the WNBA for taking racism seriously, Portnoy saw something different: a league, he claimed, that was “s–tting on” Caitlin Clark to protect its own narrative.

On his podcast, Portnoy didn’t mince words:

“The WNBA is bending over backwards to defend Angel Reese, launching a racism investigation and all, but where was this energy when Caitlin Clark was getting hammered every game? She’s getting targeted, getting fouled, and nobody in the league office seemed to care. Now suddenly, when Angel’s involved, it’s DEFCON 1? Give me a break.”

Portnoy argued that Clark—who has become the face of the league’s rookie class and a ratings magnet—has been left out to dry by the league’s leadership. He suggested that the WNBA’s decision to prioritize investigating racism claims after the Reese incident, while not publicly addressing the physical play and treatment Clark has faced, sends the wrong message.

Fans on social media were split. Some agreed with Portnoy, saying Clark has been unfairly targeted both on and off the court, and that the league should protect all its players equally. Others accused Portnoy of missing the point, arguing that racism accusations require immediate attention and that the league can, and should, address multiple issues at once.

For her part, Caitlin Clark has mostly stayed above the fray, focusing on basketball and declining to comment on the league’s investigations or the growing media circus. Angel Reese, meanwhile, has thanked the WNBA for “standing up for me and for what’s right.”

As the season progresses, the spotlight on Clark, Reese, and the WNBA’s response to controversy only grows brighter. But as long as the league’s biggest stars are at the center of culture-war debates, it’s clear that every decision—on and off the court—will be scrutinized by fans, media, and outspoken personalities like Dave Portnoy