During an intense WNBA matchup on June 17, 2025, Caitlin Clark, the rising star of the Indiana Fever, became the focus of brutal on-court aggression, further fueling the heated rivalry that defines her sophomore season. Clark, who continues to make headlines for both her scoring ability and the rough physical treatment she encounters, scored 20 points in an 88-71 road win over the struggling Connecticut Sun.
Despite Indiana’s commanding lead, the Sun refused to back down. The game’s tension boiled over in the third quarter when Clark was poked in the eye by Connecticut’s Jacy Sheldon, marking a physical altercation that escalated into a fight involving multiple players.
Details of the On-Court Altercation and Reactions
The incident began as a physical clash between Clark and Sheldon, escalating after Sheldon’s eye poke. Clark confronted Sheldon, but before the situation could de-escalate, Sun player Marina Mabrey shoved Clark to the floor, provoking a chaotic scene. The referees upgraded Sheldon’s foul to a flagrant, while technical fouls were also handed to Clark, Mabrey, and Tina Charles, who intervened in the scuffle.
The physical aggression sparked outrage from fans and commentators, especially as officials appeared slow to protect Clark, the league’s marquee player. Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, expressed his frustration openly on social media, criticizing the league’s leniency toward Mabrey’s actions and questioning the officials’ judgment.
“Imagine not kicking Marina Mabrey out after she assaults the face of the league? Just a common tech? Sick league WNBA. Also shouldn’t have been a tech on Caitlin since that girl got in her face after gouging her eyes,”
—Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports Founder
Portnoy’s criticism did not stop there; he released a video calling out the league’s leadership and some players for targeting Clark relentlessly.
“It’s the refs, its the commissioner of the league, its some team owners, they are so f****** stupid and so bad at their jobs for understanding what they have in Caitlin Clark,”
—Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports Founder
He emphasized Clark’s importance to the WNBA’s popularity and ratings, highlighting the significant drop in viewership when she is off the court.
“The face of the league, ratings go down 50 percent when she’s not there. Everybody has to watch. It’s box office.”
—Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports Founder
Portnoy further took aim at Sheldon’s competitive nature and questioned Mabrey’s conduct in the fight.
“She’s facing Jacy Sheldon, some long-time rival from Ohio State. This girl, can you say jock strap? Can’t hold her bra, can’t hold her underwear. She can’t hold Caitlin Clark’s jock strap. She’s not that good, but they hate each other.”
—Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports Founder
“Marina Mabrey, look in the mirror, The reason you have any money before the end of your career is No. 22. Nobody even knew who you were or cared about you until she got in the league. So cheap shot her like that, what are you dumb?”
—Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports Founder
“More importantly, the league, the refs, you’re gonna let people take cheap shots like that over and over and over at the face of your league?”
—Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports Founder
Escalation and Team Responses to the Physical Play
With referees perceived as failing to shield Clark adequately, the Fever took matters into their own hands. Sophie Cunningham, an expert judoka, responded aggressively when Sheldon drove to the basket during the closing minutes of the game. Cunningham’s takedown of Sheldon resulted in both players being ejected, further intensifying the bitter atmosphere of the game.
Connecticut Sun head coach Rachid Meziane argued that Indiana’s style contributed to the heated environment on the court. He condemned the late fouls, especially given the sizeable lead Indiana held.
“When you are winning a game by 17 points and you doing this stupid foul, this is just disrespectful,”
—Rachid Meziane, Connecticut Sun Head Coach
“I don’t know how Jacy and Lindsay [got] rejected from the game when they did nothing.”
—Rachid Meziane, Connecticut Sun Head Coach
Meziane also defended Mabrey’s involvement in the earlier incident, portraying her actions as attempts to mediate rather than escalate.
“She just tried to be between two players,”
—Rachid Meziane, Connecticut Sun Head Coach
“The ref has to do their job to clean the game, and make sure that the best team won the game and not just who is more physical.”
—Rachid Meziane, Connecticut Sun Head Coach
Meanwhile, Fever coach Stephanie White took a sterner stance on the referees’ role in the confrontation.
“I think it was pretty obvious that stuff was brewing,”
—Stephanie White, Indiana Fever Coach
“When the officials don’t get control of the ball game, when they allow that stuff to happen. This is what happens.”
—Stephanie White, Indiana Fever Coach
Wider Implications for the WNBA and Caitlin Clark’s Future
The incident underscored the challenges faced by Caitlin Clark as she continues to solidify her position as the face of the WNBA. Emerging as a dominant personality on the court, she also carries the pressure of being the target for opposing teams’ aggressive tactics. This has become a recurring issue not only for Clark but for the league’s officials, who must balance protecting players with maintaining game discipline.
Portnoy’s outcry reflects wider unease among fans and commentators about the league’s ability to safeguard its largest stars. Clark is pivotal to increasing WNBA’s visibility and ratings, and repeated physical attacks threaten both her health and the league’s marketability.
With controversies mounting, the WNBA faces increasing scrutiny regarding its officiating standards and disciplinary actions. The season ahead could see more confrontations as Clark’s star continues to rise, making the games more intense and the league’s response critical for its reputation and growth.