{"id":102941,"date":"2025-07-29T20:16:09","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T20:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/102941\/"},"modified":"2025-07-29T20:16:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T20:16:09","slug":"wnba-podcaster-cites-media-veterans-angel-reese-hate-in-strong-message-to-studbudz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/102941\/","title":{"rendered":"WNBA Podcaster Cites Media Veteran’s Angel Reese Hate in Strong Message to Studbudz"},"content":{"rendered":"

It will be an understatement to say that Courtney Williams\u00a0and\u00a0Natisha Hiedeman\u2019s StudBudz is a hit. After that 72-hour stream for the All-Star weekend, Dave Portnoy wrote, \u201cStudbudz has done more marketing for the @WNBA with their 72-hour stream than the bozos running the league have done since its inception.\u201d And not many could disagree. Even the Angel Reese fans with whom he spars every other day may agree with the take. <\/p>\n

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.\u00a0This irked many fans, who criticized StudBudz for having a self-proclaimed Angel Reese hater on their show.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The duo had a stern reply and answered the Reese fandom by cutting right to the chase. Courtney Williams simply said, \u201cOkay, so guess what? When Dave comes on, we\u2019re gonna ask him, \u2018Hey Dave, \u2018Why are you talking about Angel like that?\u2019\u201d\u00a0 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Ryan Clark said on the Pivot Podcast, \u201cWhen I think of the StudBuds sitting with Dave Portnoy, I think of priorities, right? If you\u2019re 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\u2019t you invite on someone who has built one of the biggest platforms of new media in Barstool?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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, <\/p>\n

\u201cDave Portnoy is not going to do that. Not only did he call Angel Reese a classless piece of s***after the NCAA\u2019s, but he\u2019s continued to double down on his dislike and disdain for her. And he\u2019s exactly, if you\u2019re servicing the WNBA viewers, he\u2019s exactly what you don\u2019t want. You don\u2019t want people to feel like because you like Angel, you have to dislike Caitlin Clark.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rivalries are normal in sports. And not every fan of the opposing party is going to like the other, and they don\u2019t have to. However, Portnoy pushing for all Caitlin Clark fans to hate Reese is what makes things more controversial for the neutrals. \u201cFever fans, Caitlin fans should hate Angel Reese,\u201d Portnoy said in a rant after the opening night Clark-Rees controversy. <\/a><\/p>\n

In the view of the neutrals, he is actively inciting hate for Reese because of multiple statements like these.\u00a0Clark further said, <\/p>\n

\u201cI am a fan of both ladies. I think they\u2019re both great for women\u2019s 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\u2019t compare in playing styles.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rivalry and its impact can exist independently in the WNBA community. One can respect Angel Reese\u2019s 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.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

According to Ryan, \u201cthat\u2019s not a level of fandom that you are subscribing to. It\u2019s a level of hate. And we\u2019ve had enough division in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n

He concluded his message with, \u201cSo, for the stud buds, it\u2019s 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\u2019d invite him on. I\u2019d have the conversation with him, and I believe that they should too. Understanding what\u2019s at stake when you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

The @StudBudz<\/a> now know the stressors of media fame. After the massive success of their @wnba<\/a> 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<\/a> & Natasha have to\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/XgZEQrCk3d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) July 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u2019t erase the valid concerns of WNBA fans who want to protect the culture of their community. <\/p>\n

Ryan Clark\u2019s Angel Reese discourse points to a bigger problem<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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\u2019t 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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 \u201cold guard\u201d worries it\u2019s an overcorrection that doesn\u2019t 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\u2019s only five-time champion. Iconic teams like that may become rare in an expanded league.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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The WNBA\u2019s bold embrace of athlete agency and social advocacy sparks both devotion and heated debate about politics and activism in sports. As the league\u2019s fan base expands, so does the range of opinions, making these discussions even more dynamic and challenging. If the league\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s contribution to the game\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Reese ultimately represents the WNBA\u2019s crossroads: she\u2019s the face of its dramatic rise, a symbol of the debate between old and new, and a powerful force in the league\u2019s evolution.<\/p>\n

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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, \u201cPeople should not be using my name to push those agendas. It\u2019s disappointing. It\u2019s not acceptable.\u201d <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n