Dave Portnoy Is Enraged By WNBA Refs' Treatment Of Sophie Cunningham

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has a huge problem with the WNBA and the product that it's putting out there on a nightly basis. Just two days ago, the Minnesota Lynx picked up a 108-100 win over the Indiana Fever thanks to a 28-point performance from rookie sensation Olivia Miles. During ...

by Chris Rosvoglou

Aug 4, 2026

Dave Portnoy on phone.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has a huge problem with the WNBA and the product that it's putting out there on a nightly basis.

Just two days ago, the Minnesota Lynx picked up a 108-100 win over the Indiana Fever thanks to a 28-point performance from rookie sensation Olivia Miles. During this past Sunday's game, Fever guard Sophie Cunningham took an elbow to the face from Lynx forward Nia Coffey.

Despite getting hit in the face, Cunningham was called for a defensive foul. That decision didn't sit well with Portnoy, who called out WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

"Sophie just got 17 of her teeth knocked out and they called her for the foul," Portnoy wrote on X. "Sick league @CathyEngelbert."

Jul 31, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) reacts to game play against the Portland Fire during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images

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There are plenty of WNBA fans who were also outraged by this foul call on Cunningham, make no mistake about it.

"Let’s be real: The WNBA will allow Sophie and Caitlin to be assaulted every night until one of them gets seriously hurt in a catastrophic way," one person declared.

"Do they just not understand the rules of basketball at all," a fan asked on social media.

"WNBA refs called a foul on Sophie Cunningham for hitting a player’s full-speed elbow with her jaw while standing still, sending a message to any other player who wants to stand up for women in women’s sports," another fan wrote.

Officiating is a huge problem for the WNBA.

After the Chicago Sky lost to the Phoenix Mercury on Monday night, head coach Tyler Marsh ripped the WNBA's officiating.

“It was a joke. It was a (expletive) joke. It’s a joke,” Marsh told reporters. “How many more games does she need to go without getting a free throw? It makes no sense. Zero sense. It didn’t come to that. We fought our asses off today.” We could have been more disciplined, put them on the line 40 times.”

Fever star Caitlin Clark has also expressed her frustration with the WNBA's refs this season.

“It’s ridiculous, I got a technical for clapping,” Clark told reporters in June. “We should all just go on the calendar now and pick a game I’m going to be suspended for if I’m going to get technicals for clapping.”

Will the WNBA eventually get a hold of this issue? Only time will tell.