Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark once again found herself at the center of a major WNBA debate after Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy blasted the league over a game-day social media graphic. The controversy erupted before Sunday's WNBA doubleheader when the league's official social media account shared a promotional graphic for two games: the Las Vegas Aces against the Atlanta Dream and the Indiana Fever against the Seattle Storm. The left side of the graphic featured A'ja Wilson and Angel Reese, but on the Fever side, it showed Seattle's Zia Cooke and Indiana rookie Raven Johnson instead of Caitlin Clark.
Portnoy Calls Decision 'Idiotic'
The omission quickly caught Portnoy's attention. He called the decision 'idiotic' and accused the league of intentionally leaving out its biggest star. His comments spread across social media within minutes, sparking a debate among fans about whether the WNBA had made a mistake by not using Clark in the promotion. Portnoy argued that the move made no sense because Clark has become one of the most talked-about athletes in American sports since entering the league. He compared it to promoting NBA games without stars like LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Portnoy Clarifies Frustration Not Aimed at Raven Johnson
In a video posted online, Portnoy clarified that his frustration was not aimed at Raven Johnson personally. He stated that he actually liked Johnson's game and believed she brought toughness and defense to Indiana's roster. Still, he questioned why the WNBA chose a rookie reserve player over Caitlin Clark for a national promotion. '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,' Portnoy said. He continued, '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.'
Clark's Recent Performances Highlight the Snub
Portnoy also pointed to Clark's recent performances. Just days earlier, Clark scored 32 points in an overtime loss against the Washington Mystics. On Sunday, she again led Indiana in almost every major category during the Fever's 89-78 win over Seattle. Clark finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists, and two blocks. She also had five turnovers but still controlled the game offensively and helped Indiana close out the victory. In contrast, Raven Johnson played a career-high 17 minutes off the bench, finishing with no points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block.
Portnoy Doubles Down on Criticism
Portnoy later doubled down on his criticism, accusing the league of ignoring its biggest attraction despite Clark helping bring more attention, television viewers, and sponsorship value to the WNBA. The Fever will now return home for their next game Wednesday against the Portland Fire.
