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A WNBA fan wants Dave Portnoy banned from games amid his comments on the latest Angel Reese-Caitlin Clark controversy.
Last weekend, the pair clashed as Clark was issued a flagrant foul for slapping across Reese’s arm and ultimately sending her to the floor.
Reese was incensed by the play and tried to confront Clark before Indiana center Aliyah Boston stepped in between the players.
Portnoy – a massive Clark fan – later said that Reese had ‘made a mockery of her existence’ and called allegations that Reese was racially abused by Indiana fans ‘complete bulls***.’
And this week, a petition was started on Change.org to ban Barstool founder Portnoy from WNBA games, with the page saying that he ‘disrespected the talented women of this league.’
‘The WNBA has always been about creating a safe space for people of all genders, races, and backgrounds to enjoy incredible basketball,’ the petition reads. ‘With the recent media attention women’s basketball has gotten, it has brought some negative, racial attention from people who claim to be ‘fans.’
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese clashed during their first WNBA game of the season
Portnoy was at the game in Indiana, and insisted the allegations that Reese was racially abused are ‘complete bulls***”
‘Barstool founder Dave Portnoy has inserted himself into this space, where he has disrespected the talented women of this league. For years, he has been harassing Angel Reese, a Black woman, using his online platform.’
The petition goes on to mention his use of the N-word in previous clips, and also referenced the fact that he made $350k on a bet that Clark would notch a triple-double against the Sky.
‘This petition is to put pressure on the WNBA, the Indiana Fever, and the NBA to take swift action in banning Dave Portnoy from all NBA and WNBA events in the future,’ the last section of the petition reads. ‘This will show a strong commitment to player safety and show that there are consequences for racist fan behavior, no matter who you are. Please sign and share – let’s help keep the WNBA a safe space for all!’
The petition garnered 1,029 supporters but was closed as of Tuesday evening.
Following the Sky-Fever game, the WNBA announced it was investigating alleged racist abuse that Reese was subjected to.
Speaking on Monday, Clark herself made her feelings clear on the alleged abuse, telling reporters: ‘There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society.
However, Portnoy – who attended the game in Indiana – alleged that internet ‘trolls’ who dislike Caitlin Clark are responsible for the ‘false’ accusations which have triggered a WNBA investigation.
A furious Dave Portnoy insisted Angel Reese was not racially abused by Indiana Fever fans
The WNBA is investigating claims Reese was targeted with racist abuse in Saturday’s game
‘We don’t condone hate’, there was no hate,’ Portnoy said, referencing the WNBA’s statement. ‘The only hate was coming from Angel Reese attacking Caitlin Clark.’
Notably, Sky coach Tyler Marsh said the team found about the allegations when everyone else did, and indicated they were not aware of any hate speech during the game.
Reese, meanwhile, said after practice on Tuesday that ‘there’s no place in this league for that.’
‘I think the WNBA and our team and our organization have done a great job supporting me,’ she continued, via The Athletic. ‘I’ve had communication from everyone, from so many people across this league. It could happen to me, it can happen to anyone. And I think they’ve done a good job supporting us in this.’
After the game, Reese issued a blunt eight-word verdict her bust-up with Clark, insisting the referees got it right and urging people to ‘move on.’
When asked for her thoughts on Clark’s foul, she simply said: ‘Basketball play, refs got it right, move on.’
During an in-game interview with ESPN, Clark said there was ‘nothing malicious’ about the foul and called it a basketball play.
‘It’s just a good take foul,’ she said. ‘You know, either Angel gets a wide open two points, or we send them to the free-throw line.’
The rivals will meet again on June 7.
