It will be an understatement to say that Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman’s StudBudz is a hit. After that 72-hour stream for the All-Star weekend, Dave Portnoy wrote, “Studbudz has done more marketing for the @WNBA with their 72-hour stream than the bozos running the league have done since its inception.” And not many could disagree. Even the Angel Reese fans with whom he spars every other day may agree with the take.
However, that moment of unity did not last long as the fans quickly fired back at Portnoy after the StudBudz revealed they would have the Barstool Sports founder on their show. This irked many fans, who criticized StudBudz for having a self-proclaimed Angel Reese hater on their show.
The duo had a stern reply and answered the Reese fandom by cutting right to the chase. Courtney Williams simply said, “Okay, so guess what? When Dave comes on, we’re gonna ask him, ‘Hey Dave, ‘Why are you talking about Angel like that?’” However, this former NFL player turned sports analyst has explained that the situation is not so simple. He went on to explain the two approaches they could take while looking at the long-term future of their show.
Ryan Clark said on the Pivot Podcast, “When I think of the StudBuds sitting with Dave Portnoy, I think of priorities, right? If you’re Courtney and Natisha, what is your priority? If your priority is to build the Stud Buds as big as you possibly can, then why wouldn’t you invite on someone who has built one of the biggest platforms of new media in Barstool?”
Barstool Sports and the StudBudz have many things in common. Both are unfiltered and designed for the fans. Clark further emphasized that Portnoy is likely not going to be malleable like some of their guests from the past. He said,
“Dave Portnoy is not going to do that. Not only did he call Angel Reese a classless piece of s***after the NCAA’s, but he’s continued to double down on his dislike and disdain for her. And he’s exactly, if you’re servicing the WNBA viewers, he’s exactly what you don’t want. You don’t want people to feel like because you like Angel, you have to dislike Caitlin Clark.”
Rivalries are normal in sports. And not every fan of the opposing party is going to like the other, and they don’t have to. However, Portnoy pushing for all Caitlin Clark fans to hate Reese is what makes things more controversial for the neutrals. “Fever fans, Caitlin fans should hate Angel Reese,” Portnoy said in a rant after the opening night Clark-Rees controversy.
In the view of the neutrals, he is actively inciting hate for Reese because of multiple statements like these. Clark further said,
“I am a fan of both ladies. I think they’re both great for women’s basketball. And he is part of the Caitlin Clark following that makes people hate her fans or dislike her fans because they do feel like they have caused this division between two players who are actually elevating the game, and you can’t compare in playing styles.”
The rivalry and its impact can exist independently in the WNBA community. One can respect Angel Reese’s impact while also not really liking the way she goes about her business, and the same goes for Clark. However, there is a thin line between hating someone based on a sporting rivalry or because of a personal one with an agenda.
According to Ryan, “that’s not a level of fandom that you are subscribing to. It’s a level of hate. And we’ve had enough division in this world.”
He concluded his message with, “So, for the stud buds, it’s can I have a conversation that is somehow fruitful to the people that support me and watch my show while using Dave Portnoy to build my brand? I’d invite him on. I’d have the conversation with him, and I believe that they should too. Understanding what’s at stake when you do.”
The @StudBudz now know the stressors of media fame. After the massive success of their @wnba All Star stream they received backlash for their connection to Dave Portnoy. All 3 parties addressed a possible appearance on the show last week. @CourtMWilliams & Natasha have to… pic.twitter.com/XgZEQrCk3d
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) July 28, 2025
The StudBudz and Dave Portnoy situation is a high-stakes gamble. Williams and Hiedeman, focused on expanding their brands in the WNBA, may see potential business with Barstool as a way to access a bigger audience and new opportunities. While this ambition could supercharge their growth, it doesn’t erase the valid concerns of WNBA fans who want to protect the culture of their community.
Ryan Clark’s Angel Reese discourse points to a bigger problem
It’s no secret that the WNBA is a league in transition. It has gone from mild or no relevance and popularity to being the center of attention for millions. The growth hasn’t stopped at just one odd year of 2024, as the 2025 ratings are up 23% and attendance continues to break records. The expansion is also underway, with three new franchises and a $2.2B media rights deal on the horizon. On the face of it, the WNBA is set up for further growth, but the fans and the culture are still catching up.
The decision to expand the league is dividing the WNBA community. Younger fans view expansion as a natural and necessary step forward, while the veteran “old guard” worries it’s an overcorrection that doesn’t address underlying problems like roster dilution. Many longtime fans are nostalgic for the days of the star-studded 2010s Minnesota Lynx, a team that boasted 4 Hall of Famers alongside Rebekkah Brunson, still the league’s only five-time champion. Iconic teams like that may become rare in an expanded league.
For the newer generation, expansion means more opportunities and visibility for emerging talent, but for longtime supporters, it signals the possible end of an era where superteams could dominate.
The WNBA’s bold embrace of athlete agency and social advocacy sparks both devotion and heated debate about politics and activism in sports. As the league’s fan base expands, so does the range of opinions, making these discussions even more dynamic and challenging. If the league’s founding community refuses to engage with new perspectives, it risks becoming its own barrier to future growth and broader relevance. The way the WNBA community engages with sensitive issues and welcomes new fans will shape the league’s fan culture for years to come. The close-knit, interactive atmosphere that once defined the league has evolved dramatically as fresh faces and bold personalities, both on and off the court, have entered the spotlight.
As a new age superstar, Angel Reese is juggling both kinds of fan bases. For the gen-z and Gen Alpha, she is a vital part of the pop culture space, which is an important aspect of her presence in the WNBA. It represents an important aspect of Reese’s contribution to the game’s rapid growth. For the veterans, she is just as active and outspoken regarding social advocacy. She is not afraid to speak out for the marginalized communities and the ongoing pay disputes.
Reese ultimately represents the WNBA’s crossroads: she’s the face of its dramatic rise, a symbol of the debate between old and new, and a powerful force in the league’s evolution.
With figures like Portnoy injecting their perspectives and stirring passionate debate, reactions have intensified, and even players uninvolved in specific controversies, such as Caitlin Clark, have felt the ripple effects. Like Clark said, “People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable.”
Ultimately, how the community navigates these challenges will determine whether the culture remains inclusive and resilient or becomes divided under the weight of rapid growth and outside scrutiny.
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