Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, publicly called on an unnamed NBA icon to 'bow down' to Caitlin Clark after the Indiana Fever rookie delivered a career-best performance on July 17, 2026. Clark scored 35 points, along with 8 assists and 6 rebounds, in a 92-84 win over the Phoenix Mercury. The game marked her highest scoring output in the WNBA so far.
Portnoy's comments came in a social media post, where he praised Clark's impact on the league. 'She's the real deal. Time for the old guard to recognize,' he wrote. The post did not specify which NBA icon he was addressing, but speculation centered on comments from former players who had downplayed Clark's early success.
Clark, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, has been a driving force for the Fever, averaging 19.2 points and 7.5 assists per game this season. Her performance against the Mercury included 5 three-pointers and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
The Fever's victory improved their record to 14-10, keeping them in playoff contention. Clark's growing popularity has drawn significant attention to the WNBA, with TV ratings up 45% compared to last season.
