Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy has continued his criticism of WNBA player Angel Reese. This came after he was questioned by WNBA reporter Rachel Demita about his ongoing issue with the Chicago Sky forward.
Portnoy explained that his strong dislike for Reese started during a specific “ring game.” He was likely talking about the 2023 NCAA Championship. He called her a “classless piece of s***” for her behavior during that game, which is what initially sparked the controversy between them. Portnoy claims that Reese was the one who “provoked” the whole sports rivalry.
The Barstool Sports owner stated that his original comments were labeled as racist by others. Speaking with reporter Rachel DeMita on the Courtside Club podcast, Portnoy further explained the controversy.
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“I started hating Angel in the ring game. I called her a classless piece of s***. That got transformed to ‘Dave’s racist,’” Portnoy said. “That started the rivalry. Angel provoked it. … She did things that made you hate her, no different than any other rivalry.”
Portnoy Has Been Branded A Racist
Portnoy has been heavily criticized by the public and branded a racist after making several negative comments about Angel Reese. The serious backlash against him started when he made a strong remark about the star player, originally calling her a “classless piece of s***.”
During his appearance on the Courtside Club podcast, He explained that his original critique was about sportsmanship, which was changed into a racial attack by others. He believes the accusation is a result of people misinterpreting or escalating his initial statement.
The controversy has had real-world effects on Portnoy’s business. In July 2025, a potential collaboration with a group of Minnesota Lynx players, known as the StudBudz, was canceled. The players were pressured by fans to drop the partnership due to Portnoy’s previous comments about Reese.
Portnoy Vehemently Dislikes Angel Reese
Portnoy has made it very clear that he has a strong, consistent dislike for Reese, often expressing his hatred towards her. His dislike is based on her specific actions early in her career, which he feels justify his harsh opinion of her.
The Barstool Sports owner has criticized her multiple times since her debut in 2024. It began with ‘the ring game’ as revealed by Portnoy himself. Reese’s actions at that time developed hatred inside Portnoy for her. This tells us that he clearly has problems with her behavior and not with who she is.
Despite his strong feelings, Portnoy did give Reese a rare compliment for a business move she made. He praised her for coining the term “mebounds” to market a line of signature shoes, which turned her struggles with shooting efficiency into a positive strength. Portnoy admitted that, even though it pained him, he had to admit the marketing strategy was brilliant.
Published: Oct 3, 2025 01:41 pm