In the aftermath of NCAA statistics, Dave Portnoy disparages individuals who used racism to defend Caitlin Clark’s popularity.

In the days following the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, a new wave of social media discourse has reignited around the polarizing conversation about race, media coverage, and the face of women’s basketball. At the center of this storm is Caitlin Clark, Iowa’s transcendent superstar who shattered NCAA scoring records and elevated the visibility of the women’s game like never before. But as her stardom grew, so did the criticism—and the defenses, many of which have taken on racial undertones that prompted Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy to weigh in with a scorching rebuke.

“If You Think It’s About Race, You’re an Idiot”

Portnoy, known for his brash persona and unfiltered opinions, didn’t hold back. In a widely shared video posted to social media, he slammed commentators and fans who invoked racial arguments to justify Clark’s media coverage or to undermine Black players like Angel Reese or JuJu Watkins.

“Caitlin Clark is a superstar because she’s ridiculous on the court,” Portnoy said. “She pulls up from the logo, breaks scoring records, leads ratings to all-time highs. If you’re out here saying she’s only popular because she’s white, you’re discrediting her work—and worse, you’re weaponizing race in a way that makes zero sense.”

While Portnoy acknowledged that racial bias is a real issue in sports media—”I’m not blind to it,” he said—he was clear that, in this case, the conversation has become warped. “There are people trying to fight racism with racism,” he continued. “You can uplift Black women athletes without tearing down Clark. And vice versa.”

The Ratings Don’t Lie

His remarks came shortly after ESPN released staggering ratings data from the NCAA Tournament. The national championship game between Iowa and South Carolina drew 18.9 million viewers, the most-watched basketball game—men’s or women’s—since 2019. Clark’s Elite Eight clash with LSU, a rematch of last year’s title game against Angel Reese, pulled over 12 million viewers. Social media mentions of Clark’s name dwarfed nearly every other collegiate athlete, male or female, and her jersey sales exploded to No. 1 in the country.

Still, some critics argued that the attention Clark received throughout the tournament was disproportionately favorable. Several high-profile figures claimed that Clark’s success was a product of systemic racial favoritism in media narratives. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith even broached the topic during a debate, stating, “We need to ask the question—would she be getting this same love if she were Black?”

A Growing Divide

That sentiment found an audience on social media, where debates over Clark’s popularity quickly devolved into ideological warfare. Supporters of Angel Reese and other Black athletes cited a double standard in how emotion and confidence are portrayed. “When Angel taunts, it’s ‘classless.’ When Caitlin does it, it’s ‘swagger,’” one viral post read.

Others pointed to how athletes like A’ja Wilson and Arike Ogunbowale had accomplished incredible feats with comparatively less national attention. These observations weren’t new—but the post-tournament discourse reached a fever pitch, especially after Reese’s LSU squad was eliminated by Iowa in the Elite Eight, with Clark pouring in 41 points.

Clark herself addressed the issue tactfully. “People are going to say what they want,” she said after the LSU game. “I have so much respect for Angel and what she’s done for the game. We’re both competitors. That’s what makes these moments great.”

Portnoy Doubles Down

But for Portnoy, the conversation took an uglier turn when certain commentators used race not to advocate for equity—but to discredit Clark entirely.

“What I’m seeing now is people basically saying, ‘Caitlin’s only good because she’s white,’ or, ‘She’s being shoved down our throats because she’s white.’ That’s disgusting,” he said. “You’re not actually interested in fairness—you’re just race-baiting for likes and engagement. It’s pathetic.”

He added that while people should absolutely advocate for more coverage of Black women athletes, “doing it by minimizing someone else’s greatness is the worst way to go about it.”

The backlash to Portnoy’s comments was swift but divided. Some accused him of failing to grasp the deeper issues of systemic bias, while others praised him for cutting through what they saw as a toxic spiral of identity politics.

Athletes Respond

The controversy has also stirred responses from several current and former athletes. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, who led her undefeated team to a national title by defeating Iowa in the championship game, has consistently advocated for broader support of Black women athletes. However, even she struck a tone of unity following her team’s win.

“I’m proud of what Caitlin’s done for the game,” Staley said. “I’m proud of what Angel has done. I’m proud of what my girls have done. We don’t have to choose one over the other. There’s room for all of us.”

Angel Reese, who declared for the WNBA Draft shortly after the tournament, reposted several comments suggesting that she was unfairly villainized throughout her career. But she also praised Clark, calling her “a killer” on the court and “great for the game.”

JuJu Watkins, USC’s rising superstar who is poised to take over the college game next season, dismissed the racial back-and-forth. “Caitlin’s a hooper. Angel’s a hooper. I’m a hooper. The game is in great hands,” she told reporters. “Let’s not let outside noise ruin what we’re building.”

Context Matters—but So Does Nuance

While Portnoy is no stranger to controversy, this particular moment has struck a nerve because of how emotionally and culturally loaded the topic has become. His central point—that using race to discredit an elite athlete like Clark is not only wrong but counterproductive—has found agreement even among those who don’t always align with his views.

But critics argue that Portnoy, a white media executive who has benefited from courting controversy, is in no position to referee racial conversations in women’s sports.

“He’s trying to play both sides,” one sports commentator posted. “Yes, Clark is great. But pretending race hasn’t influenced who gets elevated and who doesn’t is intellectually dishonest.”

That said, Portnoy’s core assertion resonates with many: Clark is undeniably elite. She averaged 31.6 points per game this season, led Iowa to back-to-back national championship appearances, and brought record crowds and ratings wherever she went. To reduce her impact to a matter of skin color is, in his words, “a slap in the face to everyone who actually plays the game.”

Moving Forward

As Clark prepares for the next stage of her career with the Indiana Fever, the discourse is unlikely to die down. She will now share a league with many of the players she was compared to—Angel Reese, Aaliyah Boston, Kelsey Plum, and more—each of whom has had their own journey and struggles with media coverage and public perception.

The hope among many players and coaches is that the sport continues to grow without turning into a zero-sum game. “We need more Caitlins and more Angels and more JuJus,” said ESPN analyst Andraya Carter. “The more stars we have, the better it is for everyone. Let’s lift all of them up.”

In a way, that sentiment encapsulates what Portnoy—and even his fiercest critics—might agree on: this isn’t a matter of one face of the game. It’s about recognizing greatness wherever it shows up and not reducing it to race, clicks, or divisiveness.

 The Bigger Picture

Dave Portnoy’s comments may be brash, but they’ve forced a broader reckoning. Are we using race as a tool for justice, or as a bludgeon to divide? Is it possible to celebrate Caitlin Clark’s once-in-a-generation skill without diminishing the brilliance of her Black peers?

Portnoy’s stance, love him or hate him, brings that question to the forefront—and in doing so, perhaps moves the conversation toward a more productive place. Women’s basketball is on the rise. The spotlight is wide. And there’s enough of it to shine on every athlete who earns it.

The real work now is ensuring that we keep it that way.