Caitlin Clark’s self-proclaimed super fan, Dave Portnoy, has expressed his support for the WNBA star for years — and he’s not planning to stop now. Even before Clark became the face of women’s basketball, the Barstool Sports founder was already loud about his backing for the sport and its growing audience.
In a recent appearance on Rachel DeMita’s Courtside Club podcast, Portnoy didn’t hold back on his frustration with the WNBA, saying the league has failed to capitalize on Caitlin Clark’s growing popularity.
“I don’t care what the league did 10 years ago, or five years ago. That doesn’t matter, and that doesn’t matter in any negotiation,” Portnoy said. “[The WNBA is making money] now, and you have to take advantage of it now, and that’s how it works.”
He also called out Caitlin Clark’s Nike deal, saying the contract didn’t reflect her true market value.
“I wish I was her agent. Like, she got screwed. And she did,” Portnoy continued. “If you look back at it, the power of her, and when her shoe comes out, we’ll see what the sales are. They’re paying Devin Booker $40 million a year… In what universe is Devin Booker worth $40 million per year, and Caitlin is worth $8 [million]?”
Looking at Clark’s impact, the Iowa legend has pulled in bigger audiences and more new fans than most male stars have in years. Since entering the league, she’s drawn record crowds and TV numbers — something even Booker, despite his NBA résumé, hasn’t replicated.
“That’s What Gets You In”: Dave Portnoy Explains His Massive Caitlin Clark Fandom
For Portnoy, the connection to Caitlin Clark goes beyond hype — it’s about how she changed the way people watch the game.
“She played the game in a totally different way than we had really seen or I had,” Portnoy said. “You just look up at the TV and you’re like, ‘Who is that? That woman, that girl is playing differently than I’ve ever seen before.’ And that’s what gets you in.”
Even though Clark’s season ended early due to injury, her influence hasn’t slowed. She’s still the biggest name in the league — and for fans like Portnoy, she’s more than just a player; she’s the heartbeat of the WNBA’s future.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
