Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, criticized the WNBA for investigating claims of racial abuse towards Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during the team’s game against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever.
On Tuesday, the league revealed it cannot substantiate claims that racist fan behavior took place during a game in Indianapolis earlier this month.
Portnoy called the WNBA ‘f***ing morons’ for their response and suggested that creating a racial issue based on information from social media trolls who were not even present at the game was mishandling the situation.
The incident occurred during the season opener in Indianapolis, where Clark was penalized for a flagrant foul on Reese, leading to a heated confrontation between the two players on the court.
Afterwards, the league announced its investigation into claims of racist abuse directed at Reese.
On Tuesday, the league said its investigation included gathering information from fans, team and arena staff, as well as an ‘audio and video review of the game.’
Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky takes a hard foul from Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever in the second half during the Fever’s home opener
Sky forward Angel Reese (5) reacts to a flagrant foul from Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark
Dave Portnoy looks on prior to Game Four of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Center on June 14, 2024
‘We appreciate the quick action by the league and the Indiana Fever to take this matter seriously and to investigate,’ Chicago Sky CEO and President Adam Fox said in a statement. ‘This process demonstrates the league’s strong stance on stopping hate at all WNBA games and events, and we will continue to support those efforts.’
The WNBA, according to a person familiar with the investigation, was looking into claims that racist comments were directed toward Chicago’s Angel Reese by fans during the loss to WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark and the Fever. Indiana won the game handily, 93-58.
Reese, who is black, and Clark, who is white, were meeting for the seventh time in their ongoing – and much-talked-about – rivalry. Clark later said she did not hear any racist remarks during that game, but acknowledged that it was loud in Indiana’s arena throughout the game.
‘It’s super loud in here, and though I didn’t hear anything, I think that’s why they’re doing the investigation,’ Clark said earlier this month. ‘That’s why they’re looking into it. That doesn’t mean nothing happened, so I’ll just trust the league’s investigation, and I’m sure they’ll do the right thing.’
Both teams had previously issued statements supporting the investigation, as did the WNBA players association. The Sky were playing in Phoenix on Tuesday. The WNBPA did not issue any immediate comment after the league’s announcement.
The league announced an investigation into alleged racist abuse of Reese from Fever fans
‘We appreciate the swift and thorough process undertaken by the WNBA to investigate these allegations, which were not substantiated,’ Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines said Tuesday in a statement distributed by the Fever.
‘At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, we are committed to providing the best possible basketball experience for players and fans where hate speech has absolutely no place. Indiana is home to the world’s greatest fans, and we look forward to an exciting season of Fever basketball.’
Reese was asked earlier this month if she was able to provide the WNBA with details about the incident. She did not offer specifics on if she had done so, saying ‘that’s not a me question.’ She also did not reveal what type of comments were made, or any other specifics about what prompted the investigation.
But moments earlier, in that same availability with reporters, Reese said she was receiving widespread support from across the league because of the alleged incident.
‘Obviously, there’s no place in this league for that,’ Reese said at that time. ‘I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me. … Going through this whole process, if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.’
