Dave Portnoy Mocks WNBA Hater ‘Morons’ as $325M Connecticut Sun Deal Makes Waves

Barstool owner Dave Portnoy made an interesting case about the WNBA fans after the Sun got sold for a whooping $325 million.

Dave Portnoy Mocks WNBA Hater ‘Morons’ as $325M Connecticut Sun Deal Makes Waves

Dave Portnoy (Image by FirstSportz)

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Over the past few years, the WNBA has made considerable progress regarding its viewership, financial growth, and several other aspects. So much so that the WNBA franchise, the Connecticut Sun, is reportedly going to be sold for a record $325 million through a group led by the Boston Celtics’ minority owner, Stephen Pagliuca.

Many have criticized the WNBA and its players for asking for a salary hike over the last few months, but Barstool founder Dave Portnoy does not agree with this. Instead, he has doubled down after calling out fans who disagree that the WNBA players shouldn’t be paid more. He went as far as calling critics morons after the recent Connecticut Suns deal was agreed.

All the morons who said the WNBA players don’t deserve more money look like absolute morons(laughing emojis). 325 million for the franchise! Vegas was 50 million like 5 seconds ago!

Dave Portnoy wrote on X

Portnoy has backed WNBA players’ efforts to demand greater pay and even criticized the league for the inconsistent prize money distribution. Despite receiving conflicting responses to his opinions, Portnoy believes he has had his last laugh. As for the Sun deal, although the WNBA has not yet approved the contract, and Portnoy feels that the amount of the price supports his claim.

It’s crucial to remember that the WNBA has performed remarkably well in recent years. After granting franchises to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, the league declared it would grow to about 18 teams. To enter the league, these three teams have also paid an incredible $250 million. Back in 2023, however, the buy-in price was only roughly $50 million.

This demonstrates the tremendous growth the league has experienced in recent years. Additionally, the league is reaching an agreement on a new $2.2 billion TV rights deal, which will have a favorable impact on WNBA fans. With the daily performances of great players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Napheesa Collier, and Breanna Stewart, the viewership has also grown.

Not the first time Dave Portnoy has showcased support for the WNBA players

Dave Portnoy has been a vocal member in showcasing his support for the WNBA protesting for a higher salary and better deals. He also wore shirts with the slogan, ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’, during a recent WNBA matchup. Portnoy has been supporting this mission for fair play for a long time. He also took to his X account to put forward his feelings on this matter.

The Barstools owner shared that the WNBA players boast one of the most influential markets across any sport in the industry right now.

The WNBA is exploding by every single metric you look at – TV ratings, merch, revenue, ticket sales, you name it. They just had an expansion team, the Valkyries in Vegas; the fee was $50 million. They have sold out every single game. They are averaging more attendance than a third of the NBA teams. The franchise fee has gone up to $250 million.

Dave Portnoy said

Breanna Stewart, a board member of the WNBA Players Union, stated that the players want their fair share of the increased revenue that the league will receive from new TV deals and expansions. All this showcases that the league is making enough progress to get its share of respect from the basketball community.

WNBA star made her intentions clear on equal pay regarding the CBA deal

The WNBA players are hellbent on getting what they deserve, i.e., equal pay or a high raise in their salaries and earnings. Given that WNBA star Napheesa Collier, who plays for the Minnesota Lynx, is one of the best players in the league at the moment, she is tipped to be the WNBA MVP of the year, showcasing immense performances for her side.

But off the court, she is in a battle to reshape women’s professional basketball. For different reports, Collier is the founder of a league named Unrivaled. In a recent interview with ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, the Lynx star opened up on how the Unrivaled League could become a bargaining chip in the WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.

Look how much Unrivaled is paying us. That should allow us to make more money in the W. I feel like it gives us a leg up because it gives us players more power. There is more than one league we can play in, and we all want to play in the WNBA.

Napheesa Collier told ESPN
Napheesa Collier
Napheesa Collier (Image By FirstSportz)

She acknowledges that the conversations are “complicated” and that she’s “still navigating it.” However, with the support she has behind her, likely, the league will soon reach an agreement with Collier and Co. regarding their demands.

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