BELLEAIR, FL - NOVEMBER 12: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark speaks at a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz during the Pro Am for The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on November 12, 2025, at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire GOLF: NOV 12 LPGA, Golf Damen The ANNIKA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon251112110
BELLEAIR, FL - NOVEMBER 12: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark speaks at a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz during the Pro Am for The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican on November 12, 2025, at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire GOLF: NOV 12 LPGA, Golf Damen The ANNIKA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon251112110
The "face of the league" debate has become one of the WNBA's most polarizing storylines this season, and it just found its loudest new voice. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is not backing down from defending Caitlin Clark.
"Let's keep in mind Caitlin didn't ask for this. She's never said she was the face of the league. She's always showed respect for those who came before her. She could squash this league like a bug if she started her own league," Portnoy wrote on X on Wednesday, responding to NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's recent comments questioning Clark's status.
Portnoy's post came after Abdul-Jabbar argued on his Substack that crowning one player the face of the league overlooks stars like A'ja Wilson. Clark, on the other hand, is considered the most viewed and followed athlete of the WNBA this season based on all statistics.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 30: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 reacts during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever on July 30, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 30 Phoenix Mercury at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon073025026
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 30: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 reacts during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Indiana Fever on July 30, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 30 Phoenix Mercury at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon073025026
But the argument goes beyond this one discussion. It started when 11 Republican members of Congress, led by Congressman August Pfluger, wrote a letter to commissioner Cathy Engelbert, saying that Clark is the face of the league and that she faces racist attacks.
"She is by far the most popular player in the league by every metric possible. The market dictates who the face of the league is, and it's clearly Caitlin. This argument makes zero sense and is just steeped in jealousy and stupidity," Portnoy added, comparing Clark's rise to Serena Williams in tennis and Tiger Woods in golf.
And there is truth in this analogy, according to some numbers. The contest between Clark's Fever and Wilson's Aces is the second-most viewed telecast of any regular-season matchup since 2000 in the WNBA, despite Clark only scoring 12 points while Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham were running the show.
Aside from the ratings and Twitter war, there is a more pressing matter for Indiana, which concerns Clark physically.
Caitlin Clark Speaks on Quad Contusion
Clark's frustration went beyond the missed call, and she was quick to express how it affected her physically. She showed no restraint when she answered questions from the reporters about the incident.
"That hurts. The ref can't miss that," Clark said postgame, according to Fever reporter Scott Agness.
"And then I have to play with a contusion in my leg the rest of the game. It's ridiculous," she added.
The complaint carries extra weight given Clark's recent injury history. She only recently returned from a back issue that pushed Indiana to place her on a minutes restriction, and she played just 16 minutes in her first game back against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Clark is still averaging 20.1 points, 7.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds this season, numbers that explain why any new leg injury draws quick concern after a 2025 season cut short to just 13 games.
Do you think Caitlin Clark deserves more protection from officials? Comment down and let us know.
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Written by
Utsav Gupta
Edited by
Utsav Gupta