Dave Portnoy has blasted WNBA star Alyssa Thomas after she appeared to punch Caitlin Clark in the throat during their game on Wednesday night.
Clark was driving to the hoop when she fell to the ground in the paint while under pressure from a number of Phoenix Mercury defenders.
Three Mercury players were battling to strip the ball away from Clark and succeeded in doing so.
But, while Clark lay on the floor, Thomas charged in and put her closed fist into the Indiana Fever superstar’s neck.
She then appeared to put her weight through it and pushed off Clark’s throat to get back to her feet before stepping over her to rejoin the game.
A reverse angle showed Thomas, while jostling on their way down to the floor, also drove her left knee into Clark’s exposed groin.
The incident infuriated Portnoy, a huge Clark fan, who posted on X: ‘What are we even doing here? Brutal cheap shot.
‘These women would still be flying commercial without Caitlin and this is how she is treated. Insane.’
Despite video replays showing the incident, referees did not call a foul even though there was an official just yards away. The WNBA could review it for a flagrant foul.
The absolute worst sports organization in world history, and it's not even close https://t.co/bQtsJNLezX
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) June 25, 2026