Dave Portnoy did what he often does best – lean hard into instinct.
The Barstool Sports founder startled followers when he posted an image of a betting slip on his X account with the succinct caption: “F*ck it”.
The ticket showed a $25,000 stake on Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark to record a triple-double in her WNBA matchup.
Clark rewarded that brash confidence in record-setting style. The 23-year-old rookie compiled double-figure totals in points, rebounds, and assists-becoming the first first-year player in league history to do so. Her 19-point, 12-rebound, 13-assist line powered Indiana past the New York Liberty 83-78 and snapped the Fever’s nine-game skid against the Eastern Conference powerhouse.
By night’s end, Portnoy’s roll of the dice morphed into a windfall: the slip cashed for an eye-popping $350,000. It was merely the latest proof that fortune favors the fearless; for Clark, another milestone in a season already filled with them.
Though Portnoy’s wager drew headlines for its size, the confidence behind it was far from blind. Clark’s college résumé included 17 triple-doubles, and she entered the pro ranks with a reputation for making the extraordinary routine.
Her adjustment to the WNBA’s physicality was swift-within weeks she was pouring in 30-point nights, authoring viral step-back threes, and, crucially, elevating a Fever squad desperate for relevance.
Backers like Portnoy saw the trend lines converging: increasing minutes, a green light from beyond the arc, and improved chemistry with fellow All-Star Aliyah Boston. The triple-double felt less like a matter of “if” than “when.”
A perfect storm of hype and high stake
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Clark’s breakout and Portnoy’s bravado met in a social-media flashpoint tailor-made for the modern sports landscape. Millions had already tuned in to see whether the No. 1 overall pick could translate her NCAA dominance to the pros; now an outsized bet poured gasoline on that curiosity.
Sports-book traders reported a late surge of smaller “copy-cat” tickets backing the same prop once Portnoy’s post went live. When Clark hit the requisite 10th assist midway through the fourth quarter, timelines erupted and sportsbooks braced for payouts.
“F*ck it” became both a rallying cry and a case study in how star power intersects with real-time wagering. Portnoy’s image of the winning slip-numbers neatly circled in celebratory red- ricocheted across platforms, racking up likes from casual fans and veteran bettors alike. Within hours, Clark’s jersey ranked among the top sellers on Fanatics, and Feverticket searches spiked on secondary markets.
The episode also underscored how women’s basketball has grown into a legitimate betting market. Books once hesitant to hang extensive WNBA props now post lines that rival those for NBA regular-season games; handle on Clark-related markets has doubled compared with any other rookie. Her presence has translated into record viewership, sold-out arenas, and-evidently-seven-figure liabilities for oddsmakers willing to dangle long-shot specials.
As for Clark, the Iowa legend treated the hoopla with trademark poise. “Obviously, it’s cool,” she told reporters afterward, crediting teammates for “finishing the ball [at a] really, really high rate.” She downplayed individual accolades while acknowledging the symbolic weight of the moment for the franchise and the league.
Portnoy, never shy in victory, simply tweeted a photo of the payout voucher next to a half-finished espresso martini. It required no caption; the $350,000 figure spoke loud enough.
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