League: WNBA Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Trades

Dave Portnoy responds to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's comments on Caitlin Clark

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 16, 2026, 4:08 AM

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

Dave Portnoy responds to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's comments on Caitlin Clark

Summary

Debate over Caitlin Clark as the 'face of the league' intensifies following Alyssa Thomas’ suspension. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar expressed skepticism over the label, questioning its validity. This prompted a sharp rebuttal from Dave Portnoy, who defended Clark's status and criticized Abdul-Jabbar's remarks as baseless. The conversation continues to draw attention with implications for player recognition in the WNBA.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Alyssa Thomas received a Flagrant 2 foul and a one-game suspension.
•Kareem Abdul-Jabbar questioned Caitlin Clark being called 'the face of the league'.
•Dave Portnoy defended Clark, calling criticisms steeped in jealousy.
•The controversy follows online backlash after Thomas' suspension.
•Fans and Congress members are actively engaging in the debate.

Latest Updates

4:08 AMYahoo Sports — “Steeped in Jealousy and Stupidity”: Dave Portnoy Doesn’t Hold Back Over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Caitlin Clark Claim

What they're saying

"
After Alyssa Thomas received a Flagrant 2 foul and a one-game suspension, the expectation was that the controversy involving Caitlin Clark would die down. However, things only got worse as Thomas faced online backlash.
— Yahoo Sports

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