For NFL fans, Friday’s game was a must-watch, especially with it being the first clash on a Friday in over 5 decades. Today was an exception as the Green Bay Packers faced off against Philadelphia for the first time ever in Brazil. But Dave Portnoy does not agree. Just 24 hours since the NFL’s return, he has openly called out fans for not choosing Caitlin Clark over the NFL.

Undoubtedly, the Barstool founder is among the biggest Clark fans. From speaking against Sheryl Swoopes to criticizing Angel Reese, Portnoy has gone to all extents for Clark’s support. But this time, it’s something up a notch. Friday night, the NFL game aired exactly at the same time as the Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx game, and prioritizing the former just doesn’t sound right for Portnoy.

“Honestly only a fool would watch the NFL over Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever right now,” he wrote on X, throwing a gauntlet at NFL fans.

For him, the Indiana Fever game was a real praise. “It’s poetry in motion. It’s art. It’s beauty,” he added. To catch a glimpse of this showdown, he even booked a sofa at his home. While revealing his TV-turned-live-arena, he wrote, “She’s (Caitlin Clark) basketball Jesus.” on his official Twitter account.

But all this wasn’t really enough for the Indiana Fever to grab a win. Despite being more dominant than ever after the Olympics return, the Fever failed to add another win to their five-game winning streak. The Lynx handed Fever a loss for the second time in the last 9 games, going, 99-88.

What’s Portnoy’s response after the game?

Portnoy’s betting big on Clark’s championship aspirations

As expected, he’s sad. Ever since the match concluded, his frustration came out on X. “I’m sad,” he said in a statement. But he also sees this as a good learning for the Fever to march ahead. “This loss may end up helping the Fever. They battled their a** off. They need to know what it takes. I still think we can beat anybody. That was a game of runs,” he added.

But for Portnoy, Clark’s a real champion. The 2024 No.1 draft pick’s influence had even led him to place a $100,000 bet on the Indiana Fever to become WNBA champions this season. And it seems they are on the way to proving him right. Despite today’s loss, the Fever stands a dominant force, 7-2, post-Olympic.

Even his trust in Clark seems to be right. The 22-year-old was yet again the top scorer for the Fever tonight with 25 points, 8 rebounds, and assists each. But it could be a real challenge for the Fever who are most likely to face Lynx or the Connecticut Sun in the playoffs. They are 1-3 and 1-2 against each, respectively.

So, whether Portnoy returns with millions or a broken trust remains to be seen.