Dave Portnoy is not holding back when it comes to defending Caitlin Clark. After the Indiana Fever fell 104-102 in a heart-stopping overtime loss to the Washington Mystics, Clark once again proved why she's the center of the WNBA universe—even in defeat.

Portnoy, never one to mince words, took aim at a recent comparison that tried to downplay Clark's impact. The controversial take came from Tyrone Johnson, who likened Clark's rise to "Linsanity"—the brief, electrifying stretch Jeremy Lin had with the New York Knicks back in 2012. Johnson argued that Clark wasn't even the best player or guard from her college class, a statement that has aged about as well as milk left in the summer sun.

"Tough loss, but she is the league. The guy who called her Jeremy Lin should have his tongue cut out," Portnoy tweeted, firing back with characteristic bluntness.

And honestly? Clark's performance made that defense easy to write. She finished with a monster stat line: 32 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds, knocking down 7-of-17 from beyond the arc. But it was the fourth quarter where she truly turned into must-watch television. After a slow start, Clark exploded when it mattered most, drilling a contested three-pointer with just 1.7 seconds left to force overtime.

The Fever couldn't close the deal, as Washington survived thanks to big nights from Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. But the loss didn't erase what Clark did—she dragged her team back from the brink and nearly stole the game with the kind of shot that makes you understand why the spotlight follows her everywhere.

Calling Clark a fleeting "Linsanity" moment was always going to invite backlash. After a 32-point performance and another viral clutch moment, Portnoy made sure that backlash was deafening. The Fever are still figuring out how to turn these close losses into wins, but one thing is clear: Caitlin Clark's star power isn't fading anytime soon.