Barstool's Portnoy Loses Caitlin Clark Relationship After McCaffery Incident

Portnoy blames Barstool personality Rico Bosco for the fallout with the Indiana Fever star.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 7:49pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the multifaceted dynamics at play.The complex web of relationships between media, athletes, and their families is deconstructed in this cubist-inspired illustration.Indianapolis Today

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is lamenting the loss of his 'No. 1 relationship' with Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark after an incident involving Portnoy, Barstool personality Rico Bosco, and the McCaffery family. Portnoy claims Bosco's actions led to Clark blocking him on social media and cutting off communication.

Why it matters

The saga highlights the often-complex relationships between media personalities, athletes, and their families, as well as the potential pitfalls of public feuds. It also comes as Clark prepares for her third WNBA season with the Fever, who are set to open the 2026 campaign against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings.

The details

According to Portnoy, the incident began when he made a comment about former Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery. Clark's boyfriend is McCaffery's son, former Iowa player Connor McCaffery. Portnoy then described a dinner during which Bosco handed him a phone to speak to a member of the McCaffery family, which Portnoy said did not go well. Portnoy later tried to contact Clark to do one of his famous pizza reviews in Indianapolis, the site of the men's Final Four, but she did not respond.

  • Portnoy made the comments about Fran McCaffery on X on April 3, 2026.
  • Portnoy discussed the incident with Bosco on a recent edition of Barstool Live.

The players

Dave Portnoy

The founder of Barstool Sports who considers himself a fan of the Indiana Fever and Michigan Wolverines.

Caitlin Clark

The star guard for the Indiana Fever who is preparing for her third WNBA season.

Rico Bosco

A Barstool personality who Portnoy blames for the fallout with Caitlin Clark.

Fran McCaffery

The former head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, whose son is dating Caitlin Clark.

Connor McCaffery

The son of Fran McCaffery and the boyfriend of Caitlin Clark.

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What they’re saying

“She blocked me. Caitlin Clark has blocked me and is now not responding to me. You cost me a Caitlin Clark relationship.”

— Dave Portnoy, Barstool Sports Founder

“I'll get that back. I'll work on it and get that back.”

— Rico Bosco, Barstool Personality

What’s next

Bosco has vowed to try and broker a truce between Portnoy and the McCaffery family in an effort to restore Portnoy's relationship with Caitlin Clark.

The takeaway

This saga highlights the often delicate relationships between media personalities, athletes, and their families, and the potential for public feuds to damage those connections. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of making comments that could be seen as disrespectful towards an athlete's significant other or their family.