The rise of a star might provide a league with much-needed exposure while the star herself struggles for recognition, and no one embodies that struggle more clearly than Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark does.

Dave Portnoy, who is the founder of Barstool Sports, took the time to defend the Indiana Fever player on his show “Wake Up Barstool.”

"All she has done is elevate the league, the game. She's got them the collective bargaining agreement. She's got them to fly private. She's behind closed doors argued. [Has] come out for player increases. The NBA asked her to do the three-point contest. She said, no, I won't do that. I'll do the female version first. All she has done is advocated for the WNBA," Dave Portnoy said.

Clark has been under heavy scrutiny despite the fact that she is only in her third season as a professional after Indiana selected her first overall in 2024. Clark's rookie season drew heavy attention; her 2025 season was injury-riddled.

The fact that Portnoy made a point on his show about the three-point competition was tied to a particular incident that happened last year.

The NBA had extended an invitation to Clark to take part in the All-Star three-point competition of 2025, but she turned it down through Excel Sports because she preferred the WNBA's three-point competition.

That choice fits a pattern Clark has shown throughout a difficult stretch this season, one that included Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas striking her in the throat during a game, an incident that led to a one-game suspension for Thomas.

That physical incident was just one part of a bigger conversation Clark found herself in after the All-Star Game itself wrapped up.

Caitlin Clark Opens Up on Her Relationship With League Leadership

Clark helped Team Spoon beat Team Coop 129 to 122 in Saturday's All-Star Game, finishing with 17 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, a steal and 5 made three-pointers. Once the game ended, talk quickly turned to league leadership.

"I think I communicate mostly with probably like Nneka Ogwumike and player leadership more than anything, and I try to do the best I can. I always want to be respectful of everybody and treat everybody with kindness," Clark said during a post-game interview after WNBA All-Star weekend.

Clark then turned her attention to her relationship with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

"Me and Adam have a great relationship. I know he was here tonight supporting us. Communication and relationships solve a lot of issues and a lot of problems. Cathy has also brought a lot to this league and helped us reach new milestones."

Clark's comments followed an ESPN report suggesting Engelbert may be entering her final year as commissioner, with mounting scrutiny over player safety, inconsistent officiating, and fallout from incidents involving Clark herself, including the Thomas suspension and a series of technical foul calls this season.

Comment down whether you think Caitlin Clark's relationship with league leadership needs to change.

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta