Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, a longtime critic of Angel Reese, pulled back his sarcasm this week to praise her business savvy.
Portnoy shouted out the Chicago Sky star for trademarking “Mebounds” after the term was directed at Reese in a slanderous way, poking fun at her missed layups commonly being secured as offensive rebounds by the two-time All-Star.
In a comment on Reebok’s announcement of Reese’s signature sneaker colorway titled Angel Reese 1 Mebounds, Portnoy wrote Saturday on X:
“I hate (sports sense) Angel Reese. Hate her. That’s how much it pains me to admit how brilliant it was for her team to trademark Mebounds and make it her thing. Brilliant. I hate how brilliant it is.”
This was more than a compliment, it marked a sharp contrast from Portnoy’s previous criticisms of Reese.
He famously took jabs after her clash with Caitlin Clark, and called her — among other things — classless on several occasions.
Despite his ongoing support for Clark, Portnoy recognized Reese’s move as a clever business play.
Reese turned a mocking term in “mebounds” into a branding opportunity.
Reese, 23 and in her second WNBA season with the Chicago Sky, is averaging 14.0 points and 12.6 rebounds per contest while having made her second All-Star Game this season.
Reese has also doubled her assist tally, racking up 3.8 dimes per game from her 1.9 a year ago.
Portnoy’s shift on Reese doesn’t appear to be a total endorsement but it’s still high praise coming from the Barstool owner.
After a brutal start to the season has averaged 16.4 points, 12.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game on 50 percent shooting across her last 14 appearances.