Dave Portnoy had a heartbreaking moment watching Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever team fall to the reigning WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces.
A month after betting $100,000 that the Fever would win this year’s title (a wager that could net him a $10 million windfall), the Barstool Sports founder suffered poor performances from both Indiana and Clark.
But it was the referees who came closest to giving Portnoy a heart attack when they called Clark for a serious offensive foul during a doomed second-half comeback attempt.
“In what world is this a foul?” Portnoy said indignantly in a self-recorded video posted on X.
The clip showed Clark dribbling with his right hand and placing his left hand on the body of Aces guard Chelsea Gray, who then collided with the All-Star while violently jerking her head back.
For many viewers, and certainly for Portnoy, Gray was guilty of a clear failure.
The clip showed Clark dribbling with his right hand and placing his left hand on the body of Aces guard Chelsea Gray, who then collided with the All-Star.
Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark reacts after being fouled during Wednesday’s loss
“What world,” the 47-year-old lamented. “The star player of the league… You call that an offensive foul? What are we doing here? In the middle of a comeback. Outrageous! Savage! Ridiculous! Periphiyrus!”
After Portnoy ended his video with a newly made-up, meaningless word, many of his followers were quick to agree with him.
“A resounding failure,” wrote one follower.
“This is @WNBA officiating at its finest,” another added.
But not everyone agreed with Portnoy’s opinion.
“She dropped her shoulder and leaned over,” one fan responded. “That’s the definition of an offensive foul. The defender has the right to defend.”
“You always have to make excuses,” posted another.
Caitlin Clark (22) of Indiana Fever goes to the basket against Jackie Young of Las Vegas Aces
The call didn’t decide the game, which Indiana lost 86-75 as Aces legend A’ja Wilson set the WNBA single-season scoring record.
Clark responded to the refereeing after scoring 16 points on just 6 of 22 shooting.
“The offensive fouls are definitely surprising at times,” Clark said after the loss. “I feel like I get held and I get contacted quite a bit during games and I get hit sometimes when I get contacted and I get contacted back. It is what it is.”
Portnoy posted his own words of encouragement for the Fever following the Aces’ win.
“Get this game out of your system,” she wrote. “Let it go. They were destined for failure. Caitlin played like an idiot. It’s amazing they’ve been on her being so cold. The only thing that matters right now is being rested and ready for the playoffs. #FeverRising”
The Fever (19-18) have three more games remaining, starting with a rematch against the Aces (23-13) on Friday.
Both teams have secured a spot in the playoffs.