Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, expressed his anger towards Marina Mabrey and the WNBA after an altercation during a recent game between the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever. The incident occurred on Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where tensions flared between players, particularly involving Fever star Caitlin Clark.
The drama began in the third quarter when Sun guard Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye. This led to a heated exchange, with Clark bumping into Sheldon. Mabrey then intervened, shoving Clark to the ground, which escalated the situation. Portnoy took to social media, questioning why Mabrey was not ejected for her actions. He tweeted, “Imagine not kicking Marina Mabrey out after she assaults the face of the league?” He also argued that Clark should not have received a technical foul since she was provoked.
Following the incident, officials reviewed the play and upgraded Sheldon’s foul to a flagrant 1. They assessed technical fouls to Clark, Mabrey, and Sun center Tina Charles, who was also involved. The crowd in attendance reacted strongly to the referees’ decisions, but Portnoy’s frustration was particularly notable, as he has been a supporter of Clark since her debut in the league.
After the game, crew chief Ashley Gloss explained that Sheldon’s foul was deemed “unnecessary” and posed a potential risk for injury. However, he clarified that Mabrey’s actions did not warrant a flagrant foul or ejection.
The game continued with further tensions. In the final minute, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham pulled Sheldon to the ground, seemingly in retaliation for the earlier altercation. This led to a shoving match, resulting in ejections for Sheldon, Cunningham, and Sun guard Lindsay Allen.
This game marked Clark’s second appearance after recovering from a left quad strain that had sidelined her for five games. She had previously made a strong comeback, scoring 32 points in a win against the Liberty. In the matchup against Connecticut, Clark contributed 20 points, helping the Fever secure a spot in the Commissioner’s Cup final against the Lynx.
The events of the night highlighted the intense emotions and competitive spirit within the WNBA, showcasing both the passion of the players and the challenges faced by officials in managing high-stakes games.