Dave Portnoy fumes after Sophie Cunningham called for foul after getting hit with elbow

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy was furious with the WNBA referees after Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham took a hard elbow in the face by Lynx forward Nia Coffey on Sunday.Cunningham, who’s been under scrutiny for her comments on trans athletes, was playing defense on Coffey when she was hit midway through the second quarter while the Lynx led the Fever 44-41.After a replay, referees ruled there was no hostile act by Coffey, and called a defensive foul on Cunningham.“Sophie just got 17 of her teeth knocked out and they called her for the foul,” Portnoy wrote on X, including a replay in slow motion.

“Sick league @CathyEngelbert,” he added, referring to the WNBA commissioner.Minnesota eventually beat the Fever 108-100 to win their 10th straight game on Sunday.Portnoy wasn’t alone in his criticism of the league.The defensive foul on Cunningham took social media by storm, with many outraged by the call while others came to the officials’ defense.Cunningham — who voiced support for barring transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports in a recent ESPN article — received boos anytime she touched the ball or was shown on the video board at the Target Center in Minneapolis.Her fans have rallied in support of Cunningham, with pregame protests popping up at recent games.The protests, while generally peaceful, have had some heated exchanges.

Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton was fined and suspended for five home games after an encounter with two young Cunningham supporters during a game against the Fever on Tuesday.Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve sported a “Trans Kids Belong” t-shirt for Sunday’s contest against the Fever before having a pregame conversation with Cunningham.A protest in Minneapolis Sunday grew physical when counterprotestors tried to rip shirts out of the hands of Cunningham supporters....