Dave Portnoy has blasted WNBA star Alyssa Thomas after she appeared to punch Caitlin Clark in the throat during their game on Wednesday night.
Clark was driving to the hoop when she fell to the ground in the paint while under pressure from a number of Phoenix Mercury defenders.
Three Mercury players were battling to strip the ball away from Clark and succeeded in doing so.
But, while Clark lay on the floor, Thomas charged in and put her closed fist into the Indiana Fever superstar’s neck.
She then appeared to put her weight through it and pushed off Clark’s throat to get back to her feet before stepping over her to rejoin the game.
A reverse angle showed Thomas, while jostling on their way down to the floor, also drove her left knee into Clark’s exposed groin.
Alyssa Thomas appeared to punch Caitlin Clark in the throat during their game on Wednesday
Thomas also drove her knee into Clark’s groin as they tussled for the ball on the floor
The incident infuriated Portnoy, a huge Clark fan, who posted on X: ‘What are we even doing here? Brutal cheap shot.
‘These women would still be flying commercial without Caitlin and this is how she is treated. Insane.’
Despite video replays showing the incident, referees did not call a foul even though there was an official just yards away. The WNBA could review it for a flagrant foul.
‘It was egregious and clearly disrespectful. The fact that it was a no-call … You got to call it,’ said Fever coach Stephanie White.
‘You’re coming in here aware of what happened two nights ago and that f***ing still happens? Absolutely unacceptable.’
To make things worse, Clark left the Fever’s 111-109 loss to Phoenix with a back injury during the second half.
The All-Star guard has been dealing with a back issue this season and left with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter. She went back to the locker room and didn’t return.
Clark appeared to tweak her back in the second quarter when she was fouled shooting a three-pointer. She fell to the ground and was rubbing her back as she stood up.
Fever coach Stephanie White blasted Thomas and the referees, who missed the clear foul
Thomas celebrates the Mercury’s victory after the two teams met in a heated clash on Monday
After Clark suffered her back injury, Portnoy posted again. This time he wrote: ‘Caitlin tweaked her back on this foul. Eventually checked out and didn’t return. The @WNBA unfortunately reaps what it sows.’
The two teams met Monday night and there were six technical fouls called and one ejection. Clark picked up her fifth technical in that game. The team is petitioning the league to have it rescinded.
Clark and teammate Sophie Cunningham were embroiled in a heated exchange with one of their former teammates in Monday night’s game.
Clark was defending DeWanna Bonner with just under eight minutes to go in the Fever’s 86-77 victory over the Phoenix Mercury. But as the ball came towards them, Bonner appeared to lash out at Clark in an aggressive attempt to get away from her.
A melee then exploded while a replay was being shown, and it led to Bonner and Cunningham pointing at each other, although it’s unclear why.
Bonner’s teammate and some Mercury staff members had to usher her away from Cunningham, who was continuing to point at her.
