Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy criticized the WNBA and Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey following a heated altercation involving Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark during Tuesday night’s game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, as reported by The New York Post.
Portnoy posted several statements on X, blasting the league’s officiating and calling for Mabrey to be removed from the WNBA.
“Imagine not kicking Marina Mabrey out after she assaults the face of the league?” he wrote, referencing a play where Mabrey shoved Clark to the ground.
“Sick league @WNBA. Also shouldn’t have been a tech on Caitlin since that girl got in her face after gouging her eyes.” In a separate post, he wrote, “Kick Marina Mabrey outta the league.”
Imagine not kicking Marina Mabrey out after she assaults the face of the league? Just a common tech? Sick league @WNBA Also shouldn’t have been a tech on Caitlin since that girl got in her face after gouging her eyes. pic.twitter.com/bnqKCt9voO
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) June 18, 2025
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The incident unfolded during the third quarter when Connecticut’s Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye. Clark responded by bumping into Sheldon.
Mabrey then entered the confrontation and knocked Clark to the floor. Officials reviewed the play and upgraded Sheldon’s initial foul to a flagrant 1. Technical fouls were assessed to Clark, Mabrey, and Connecticut center Tina Charles.
Despite visible outrage from the Indiana home crowd, referees did not issue a flagrant or ejection to Mabrey. After the game, crew chief Ashley Gloss explained the rationale behind the calls.
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“The contact made by Mabrey did not rise to the level of an ejection,” Gloss said. “Additionally, [it] did not meet the criteria for a flagrant foul penalty two.”
Later in the fourth quarter, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham yanked Sheldon to the ground during a fast break. A physical altercation followed, resulting in the ejections of Cunningham, Sheldon, and Sun guard Lindsay Allen.
Things were HEATED between the Sun and Fever tonight 😳 -Caitlin Clark T'd up -Marina Mabrey T'd up -Jacy Sheldon assessed flagrant -Sophie Cunningham ejected pic.twitter.com/CUnso6z4a9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 18, 2025
Clark, returning from a left quad strain that sidelined her for five games, finished the night with 20 points, six rebounds, and one assist. The Fever defeated the Sun 88–71, securing a spot in the Commissioner’s Cup final against the Minnesota Lynx.
Clark had previously made a statement return on Saturday with a season-high 32 points and seven 3-pointers in a 102–88 win over the then-undefeated New York Liberty.
Portnoy’s defense of Clark adds to growing criticism over how the WNBA has handled physical play involving the league’s most talked-about rookie. Clark’s arrival from the University of Iowa has significantly boosted ratings and attendance across the league.
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