Dave Portnoy Torches Phoenix Mercury With ‘Coward’ Label Over Deleted Caitlin Clark Post

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark continues to be a lightning rod in the WNBA. Another indication of this was in Wednesday’s 111-109 loss to the visiting Phoenix Mercury. At the 6:55 mark of the second quarter, after Clark slipped while driving in the lane, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas fell on top of Clark, striking the Fever star in the throat with her fist in the process.

As the moment continues to go viral, the Mercury social media team took the opportunity to make fun of Clark by posting a graphic that mocked the moment. The post has since been deleted, but Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, reposted it and called out the team. Portnoy is upset with the post because its graphic shows a cartoonish drawing of Clark on the floor, uttering the words, “De-wanna piece of this?!?”

Fans and spectators have since agreed with Portnoy that the Mercury social media team should have at least kept it online since it already ignited the discussion. Along with Portnoy, several figures have called out the play, which the WNBA subsequently reviewed, suspending Thomas for one game and assessing a Flagrant 2 foul. This included her coach, Stephanie White, who went on a rant during her postgame news conference.

Unfortunately for the Indiana Fever faithful, Clark and Indiana (10-8) were unable to get ahead of the Phoenix Mercury (6-13). The game was neck-in-neck all throughout, but Phoenix coach Nate Tibbetts’ squad pulled away in the clutch to win 111-109.

Clark finished with 19 points, eight assists and a steal in 20 minutes as a back injury caused her to exit the game in the third quarter. Alyssa Thomas helped Phoenix to victory with 24 points, four rebounds, eight assists, a steal and one block.