Fresh off watching the Indiana Fever claim another win, Dave Portnoy didn’t hold back his business evaluation of the WNBA.
Dave Portnoy’s unwavering support for Caitlin Clark has been central to his growing investment in the WNBA. Consistently calling her the most influential player in women’s basketball history, Portnoy has slammed critics and defended her against off-court double standards.
Clark’s arrival has accelerated a surge across the entire WNBA. Surging viewership, sold-out arenas, and soaring engagement reflect a fundamental shift in women’s sports.
Even the bad news is still bringing new eyes on the WNBA, despite what Enes Kanter and Royce White may think about their bid to enter the draft.
And Dave Portnoy is a fan of it all.
Dave Portnoy admits he would buy a WNBA team if he could
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy hasn’t hid his desire to jump into WNBA ownership.
Calling the league an absolute ‘rocket ship,’ Portnoy insisted he would buy a franchise in a heartbeat, viewing its rapid growth as an unmissable financial opportunity.
He said: “The Fever are a legitimate threat. Makayla Timpson is a monster down low. They are a legitimate title threat, the playoffs are gonna be unbelievable. I dunno what the ratings are yet, but I bet they are gigantic. I’ve been saying this, when people always criticise the WNBA, and if I could buy a WNBA team, I would do it from a business perspective in like this flat (clicks fingers), because this league is a rocket ship and all this stuff that surrounds it only makes it more volatile, more must-watch, more exciting. This league, I love it. Maybe this is my weakness.”
Despite his enthusiastic talk, Dave Portnoy actually purchasing a WNBA team remains low. Soaring franchise expansion valuations, reaching upwards of $250 million, present steep financial hurdles.
Meanwhile, complex ownership vetting and potential conflicts with sports betting affiliations present major regulatory roadblocks to any official bid.
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