When Caitlin Clark stepped into the WNBA in 2024, everything felt different. The stats were impressive, sure, but it was the buzz, the energy, the way people suddenly cared that really stood out. Of course, with all that hype came some drama. Every so often, a comment or moment on the court would add fuel to the idea that other players were jealous of Clark. But according to Dave Portnoy, there was one established star who never gave off that vibe.

In the midst of the WNBA players’ open discourse against the current leadership, Napheesa Collier has found herself at the center of it all. With her four-minute statement during her exit interview, she has lit a fire that seems to be burning very bright right now. After gathering ample support from the sporting world and fellow players, she has now also found another passionate supporter in Barstool Sports founder and popular pizza taster, Dave Portnoy. Appearing on Rachel A. DeMita’s Courtside Club, Dave showed his support to Napheesa and also explained how Napheesa truly feels about Caitlin Clark.

Talking about why he thinks Napheesa was the perfect representative to hold the mic, he said, “I also think she’s a great messenger for it because my impression of her is somebody who kind of always embraced Caitlin and the Caitlin fans and the new fans. And was like very pro everything that was happening, where I feel like a lot of the players in the league weren’t. So she’s a very good mouthpiece for the league that seemingly, everybody respects.” 

While always shrouded in controversy, Dave Portnoy’s statements seem genuine, as there is evidence to back up Napheesa’s acceptance of the changing landscape of the W. In an old interview with former Soccer player Kelley O’Hara and reporter Greydy Diaz, Napheesa had embraced the changes Caitlin ushered in, saying, “The exposure and viewership they’ve brought to the game have been incredible. But beyond that, the talent level is unreal. People talk a lot about how they’re growing the audience, but their skill level is just as impressive.”

Statements like these are exactly why Napheesa Collier is one of the, if not the, most respected players in the league. And when a passionate Caitlin Clark fan, such as Dave Portnoy, hears praise for Caitlin, it is certainly going to sway his support.

Also, Portnoy’s comments come after he recently threw his hat into the court.

SBJ recently reported that the current WNBA commissioner is unlikely to remain in her position after this fall’s CBA negotiations, as many critics urge Cathy Engelbert to step down. This could leave the league without leadership at its highest level. In light of this, Portnoy humorously nominated himself for the commissioner role on his FS1 show, Wake Up Barstool.

“We would be flying, dining, and driving. I would absolutely take this league to a level it has never seen. Cathy Engelbert can’t market her way out of a paper bag. Embrace the stuff that’s going on in this league,” he said. Portnoy suggested that one of his first moves would be to raise rookie salaries. After all, his favorite player, who ignited his interest in the W, earned $78,000 this season.

Even Collier had addressed Clark’s pay in her comments, remembering a past conversation with Engelbert about the issue. “Her response was, ‘[Clark] should be grateful. She makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn’t make anything,” the Lynx player revealed. “And in that same conversation, she told me, ‘Players should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them.'”

So, yes, Portnoy and Collier are aligned on one thing.

Caitlin Clark Shows Support for Napheesa Collier

After Napheesa Collier’s explosive revelation about the conversation she had with Cathy Engelbert concerning Caitlin Clark, there were bound to be some very strong reactions. Caitlin’s teammate Sophie Cunningham had already defended her. But everybody was just waiting for Caitlin Clark’s response. However, if you were waiting for something dramatic, you’d be disappointed.

In her typical Caitlin Clark fashion, she just focused on the long picture and supported Napheesa Collier. She said, “Well, I mean, first of all, I have great respect for Phee, and I think she made a lot of very valid points. And, you know, I think what people need to understand, we need great leadership in this time across all levels. This is straight up the most important moment in this league’s history. This league’s been around for 25-plus years, and this is a moment we have to capitalize on. So that’s honestly what I would say. I think Phee said it all with what she said and the points she made.”

As the WNBA fights for its share of the league’s financial growth, its top player must support what could be one of the most historic negotiations in sports. Where do you think this saga will go now?