INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 reaches out to her team mates in the second half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826035
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 18: Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark 22 reaches out to her team mates in the second half of play during a WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the New York Liberty and the Indiana Fever on July 18, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUL 18 New York Liberty at Indiana Fever EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon071826035
Dave Portnoy has never been shy about his admiration for Caitlin Clark. The Barstool Sports founder has spent the last two seasons using his platform to champion, defend, and occasionally criticize the Indiana Fever guard.
But this week he went a step further. On Monday's episode of 'Wake Up Barstool,' Portnoy declared Clark the clear-cut WNBA MVP, and he came with numbers to back it up.
“Caitlin Clark is the MVP. And I'm not just saying it because I'm a Caitlin Clark fan... She's a double-double machine. The league has never seen anything like it," Portnoy said.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 16: Caitlin Clark 22 of Indiana reacts during the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream on August 16th, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire WNBA: AUG 16 Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260816027
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 16: Caitlin Clark 22 of Indiana reacts during the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream on August 16th, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire WNBA: AUG 16 Indiana Fever at Atlanta Dream EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260816027
The numbers back his excitement. After her 2025 season was shortened by injuries, Clark has returned in full force. Heading into the FIBA World Cup break, Clark is averaging 22.5 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game.
And in her recent performances have rewritten the record books. In Indiana's 111-91 victory over the Connecticut Sun on August 28, Clark recorded 34 points and 12 assists. Before that, she had a 37-point, 10-assist night against the Chicago Sky.
"The numbers and what she has been doing for the last month—the last game, 34 points, 12 assists; game before that, 37 points, 10 assists. There's crazy stats of like nobody in the history of the league has scored 30 and had double-digit assists," Portnoy added during the same episode of 'Wake Up Barstool '.
She became the fastest player in league history to reach 600 career assists and already sits second all time among guards in career double-doubles.
"Just an unbelievable run for Caitlin. And God, if they ever bring home this title, I know people say they don't care; it'll have monster ratings. It already does. So Caitlin Clark has heated up at the exact right time," Portnoy noted.
Clark and Fever frontcourt partner Aliyah Boston are both representing Team USA at the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin, running September 4–13.
MVP contender A'ja Wilson has withdrawn from the World Cup. So, the World Cup gives Clark another huge stage before the Fever's final push.
Clark's run is great, but the MVP race is tighter than ever
The biggest name standing in Clark's way is still 4x MVP A'ja Wilson. She's leading the league with 26.0 points along with 9.4 rebounds per contest, per ESPN.
Behind her is Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles, the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year and a strong bet to join Candace Parker as the only players to win both awards in the same season.
Miles is averaging 19.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game while helping her team to the league's best record.
Then there's Kelsey Mitchell, Clark's own backcourt partner in Indiana. Mitchell is arguably having her best season, averaging 25 points on 51.3% shooting and 45.5% from three.
While Portnoy's arguments show Clark's historic resurgence, she is not running away with the MVP award uncontested.
Written by
Md Saife Fida