Angel Reese is one of the most prominent WNBA stars today, but she’s also a divisive figure and has garnered a significant number of critics on social media. One of those critics, or haters, is Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy, who is also a massive supporter of Caitlin Clark.
In an appearance on Rachel DeMita’s “Courtside Club” podcast, Portnoy was asked how her hatred for Reese began. Barstool’s “Presidente” said that it was due to the LSU star’s taunting toward the end of the infamous game vs. Iowa. Angel famously flashed the ring celebration and John Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” gesture towards Caitlin, as the game ended.
“I started hating Angel in the ring game,” Portnoy said. “When she was going around doing that, and I called her a classless piece of s—t that got transformed to, ‘Dave’s racist.’ I didn’t even know who she was. I don’t care who did that. I was rooting for Caitlin. That was like the first year I was a Caitlin fan, and I had never seen anybody act like Angel did after the game.”
Portnoy also argued that there’s no proof that Clark did it first before the tournament, calling out people like Stephen A. Smith. Nevertheless, he dislikes Reese because it’s part of sports, citing an example like how he has always disliked Peyton Manning, due to being a big fan of Tom Brady.
Portnoy once praised Angel Reese’s business mind
Despite hating on Angel and her game on the court, Dave can’t help but compliment the Chicago Sky star for her business off the court. Portnoy was very impressed with Reese and her team for trademarking “Mebounds,” which the internet used to call out the two-time WNBA All-Star for rebounding her own missed shots.
Reese used the name “Mebounds” for one of her signature shoes from Reebok, released in July. Angel has been a big hit for the revitalized shoe brand, with her kicks selling out quickly. Reebok is currently led by Shaquille O’Neal, who serves as president of basketball, while Allen Iverson is the vice president; the two NBA legends are working together to bring the brand back big onto the basketball scene.
Portnoy knows a thing or two about business, as he has an estimated net worth of around $250 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Dave famously sold Barstool Sports to Penn Entertainment for $551 million in 2023, only to purchase it back for just $1.
