Dave Portnoy has publicly supported Caitlin Clark and other WNBA players in the ongoing salary dispute as the league experiences significant growth in value. The conflict between the WNBA and its players’ association over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has intensified amid rising league revenues and stagnant player pay.
Portnoy criticized the league’s owners for refusing to increase player compensation despite booming franchise valuations and expanding revenue streams. He expressed his stance in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, highlighting the disparity between the league’s commercial success and the modest salaries earned by the athletes.
Portnoy highlights the league’s rapid growth contrasted with player earnings
Portnoy pointed out that the WNBA is flourishing across multiple revenue areas, including ticket sales, merchandise, and television rights. However, despite these financial improvements, player salaries remain disproportionately low. He questioned the accuracy of claims from league representatives about financial losses, suggesting the owners withhold transparent financial information to avoid paying players more under the terms of the CBA.
“I see lots of morons trying to act like WNBA players don’t deserve more money,” he wrote. “They are throwing around this ‘lost 50 million’ number that nobody even knows where it comes from … The owners don’t want to say how the league is doing, cause then you gotta pay more going into bargaining agreement.” —Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports founder
“The league is exploding. Franchise values are exploding. Ticket sales, merch, tv rights all exploding. The players have an opt-out in their CBA. Of course, they took it … The players make virtually nothing while the entire league explodes. Of course, they deserve more money.” —Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports founder
Demonstrating their frustration, several WNBA stars wore shirts during warmups at the All-Star game in Indianapolis that read
“Pay Us What You Owe Us,”
drawing public focus to the ongoing wage dispute and highlighting the gap between player earnings and league profitability.
Portnoy calls for cautious management of Clark’s injury to maximize playoff impact
Caitlin Clark, the Indiana Fever standout, has faced repeated setbacks this season due to muscle injuries. After missing five games earlier from a groin strain, Clark suffered another injury during the team‘s 85-77 victory over the Connecticut Sun on July 15. Observing this, Portnoy urged the Fever to keep Clark out of games until the playoffs to protect her health and preserve her for a deep postseason run.
“Rest Caitlin till the playoffs,” he wrote. “Kinda crazy she came back before the All-Star break. Need her 100% if this team had any chance for a real run. They are good enough to make playoffs without her.” —Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports founder
This latest issue marks Clark’s fourth distinct muscle injury this season, underscoring the physical toll of the demanding campaign on the Fever’s star.
With increasing public support from influential voices like Dave Portnoy and visible player activism, the Caitlin Clark WNBA salary dispute remains a focal point of the league’s future direction. How these negotiations conclude will likely have significant effects on player compensation standards and the overall growth trajectory of women’s professional basketball.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why was Caitlin Clark sitting with Taylor Swift?
A. Clark was spotted in the same suite as Swift at Arrowhead Stadium during the Chiefs’ playoff game against the Houston Texans on Saturday. This was the first time they attended a game together, following Clark’s claim that Swift invited her earlier this season.
Q. Why is Taylor Swift sitting with Caitlin Clark?
A. Swift was spotted sitting beside WNBA player Caitlin Clark during the Chiefs game against the Houston Texans. Clark’s visit to Swift’s suite happened soon after she shared that Swift had invited her to a Chiefs game.
Q. What did Taylor Swift give Caitlin Clark?
A. Taylor Swift gifted every Eras Tour shirt and sweatshirt to Caitlin Clark. When Caitlin, a WNBA star, went to the Eras Tour in Indianapolis in 2024, Taylor made sure she got four bags of merchandise.