Portnoy Blasts Mabry and WNBA After Feisty Game

Dave Portnoy expressed his anger towards Marina Mabry and the WNBA following a heated encounter between Mabry and Caitlyn Clark during the recent Connecticut vs. Fever game.

He tweeted, “Can you believe Marina Mabry won’t get kicked out after attacking the league’s star?” He included a video of the incident and added, “Sic League @WNBA. Plus, she hit her face after gouging her eyes; that’s not exactly skill.” It’s clear he felt strongly about this.

Earlier, the Barstool founder tweeted, “I’m going to kick Marina Mabry out of the league.” His frustration comes in light of the game’s events, particularly a third-quarter play where Sun guard Jacy Sheldon made contact with Clark’s eyes during the Fever’s 88-71 win.

Things heated up when Clark collided with Sheldon, leading to Mabry’s involvement and subsequent physicality that sent Clark to the ground.

After a detailed review, referees escalated Sheldon’s foul to a Flagrant 1 and assessed technical fouls on Clark, Mabry, and Sun Center.

The crowd in Indiana was not happy with the officiating, but no one seemed more outraged than Portnoy, a known fan of Clark since she joined the league from Iowa.

Post-game, crew chief Ashley Gross commented on the incident, stating that Sheldon’s foul was unnecessary and unexpected, especially as it could lead to injury. However, Gross noted that Mabry’s actions didn’t warrant a more severe penalty.

Gross explained, “The contact with Mabry did not reach the level necessary for a more serious foul.” Essentially, it didn’t meet the criteria for a Flagrant Foul Penalty Two.

As the match approached its end, with Indiana leading, Sheldon felt the consequences when Fever guard Sophie Cunningham pulled her down, likely in response to the earlier scuffle.

This game was particularly noteworthy as it marked Clark’s return after a left quad injury that sidelined her for five matches. She came back strong on Saturday, scoring a season-high 32 points against the previously undefeated Liberty.

In the game against Connecticut, Clark contributed 20 points, six rebounds, and an assist, as the Sun clinched the Commissioners Cup final against the Lynx.