Split image of Dave Portnoy and Caitlin Clark with Angel ReeseDave Portnoy, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese (Photos via Getty Images)
Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy has taken credit for the supposed feud between WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

Race has been cited as the most prominent factor when it comes to the notable rivalry between the second-year players, with Caitlin said to be a beneficiary of “white privilege” by her detractors.

However, Portnoy is taking the blame for most of it.

The media mogul infamously unleashed a vulgar four-word insult at Reese after that taunting incident during the national championship game between Iowa and LSU in 2023, referring to the latter as a “Classless piece of s**t,” and incurring Shaquille O’Neal’s wrath in the process.

Portnoy discussed the rivalry during his recent appearance on ‘Club Shay Shay’ with Shannon Sharpe, expressing a belief that his words did a lot in terms of sparking the rivalry.

“I know I haven’t done anything maliciously. And again, perfect example… I live for Caitlin Clark,” he said. “I ignited to a degree, I wanna say the race aspect of Angel Reese versus Caitlin.”

Dave Portnoy Swears He’s Taking This To His Grave

Angel Reese in uniform and Dave Portnoy sitting courtsideAngel Reese and Dave Portnoy (Photos via Getty Images)
Portnoy insists that race had nothing to do with his statement, claiming he is a Clark fan and had money on Iowa while he really did feel like Reese’s actions were classless.

“I will go to my grave, there was no race component,” he remarked. “I bet on Iowa. I’m a Caitlin Clark fan. I thought what Angel Reese did at the game was classless, nothing to do with the color of her skin. I tweeted that and it became a race — ‘he’s only saying this [because she’s Black]’ — it had nothing to do with that. I will stand forever.”

“And I think the way they acted for a long time where Caitlin didn’t say a f*cking word and she’s taking bullets, like they are coming at her, that’s not a race issue to me.”

Portnoy remains adamant, stating he will never apologize for what he tweeted that night.

“I will go to my grave, I’m never going to apologize for that, because it wasn’t malicious and I stand by it,” he declared.