“Feels Like We Were Being Lied To”: Dave Portnoy Reveals Why Barstool Rejected Sophie Cunningham’s Podcast

A surprising behind-the-scenes drama has emerged as Dave Portnoy opens up about why Barstool Sports walked away from what could have been a high-profile collaboration with WNBA star Sophie Cunningham.

The sports and pop culture world is buzzing after the launch of a brand-new podcast: “Show Me Something”, co-hosted by WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham and Summer House personality West Wilson. The podcast, described as “fast, raw, rule-free television,” blends sports, pop culture, and all the messy spaces in between. Backed by media mogul Colin Cowherd, the show was expected to make serious waves.

But what’s shocking isn’t just what made it to air — it’s what almost happened behind the scenes.

As it turns out, “Show Me Something” was nearly picked up by Barstool Sports. And it probably would have been, if not for a last-minute decision by Barstool founder and CEO, Dave Portnoy, who has now revealed the real reason why he pulled the plug.

From Near-Deal to Total Shutdown

On a recent episode of The Unnamed Show, Dave Portnoy shared previously undisclosed details about what went wrong.

“There’s this podcast I passed on,” Portnoy said. “It was one I thought was going to happen. They actually just launched it.”

According to Portnoy, Sophie Cunningham and West Wilson had already traveled to New York and recorded pilot episodes inside Barstool’s headquarters — a step that typically signals a deal is all but done. Everything looked locked in.

But then, seemingly out of nowhere, Barstool backed away.

“It Felt Like a Setup”: Why Dave Portnoy Said No

So, what happened?

Surprisingly, the issue wasn’t with Sophie Cunningham herself — in fact, Portnoy admitted that he likes her. The problem, he explained, lay with her representation and the terms they were demanding behind the scenes.

“The problem wasn’t really her,” Portnoy said. “It was her agent. Whenever I have to deal with agents, it becomes a headache.”

He added:

“I felt like we were being set up to do all the heavy lifting in terms of marketing and branding. And the truth is, she wasn’t even that focused on the podcast. It was just one of, like, 9,000 things she’s doing. At a certain point, I just started thinking, ‘I don’t like the way this feels.’”

Portnoy admitted that the deal came dangerously close to becoming official.

“I was ready to sign,” he said. “But then I sat back and realized, ‘I’m not excited about this anymore.’ So I passed.”

A Fan of the Fever — But Not a Fool

Adding another layer of intrigue to the situation is the fact that Dave Portnoy is a known fan of the Indiana Fever, the WNBA team Sophie Cunningham plays for. Some fans speculated that his initial interest in the project may have been personally motivated.

But if that’s true, his final decision seems to show otherwise: Portnoy might be a fan — but he’s not going to let personal bias cloud business judgment.

Sophie Cunningham: Fierce On the Court, Unfiltered Off It

If Portnoy thought Sophie Cunningham wasn’t all-in on podcasting, that hasn’t stopped her from making headlines.

In just the first episode of “Show Me Something”, she lit the internet on fire by passionately defending Caitlin Clark, the WNBA’s breakout star, against what she views as unfair criticism.

“If you don’t think Caitlin Clark is the face of the WNBA, you’re f—ing stupid,” Cunningham said.

She continued:

“Our league has a ton of amazing players, and I respect all of them. But when people try to argue that Caitlin isn’t the face of the league, or that we’d be fine without her — that’s just dumb. It’s really, really dumb.”

Cunningham even revealed that certain players have gone out of their way to make life difficult for Clark on the court — not for basketball reasons, but because of her fame.

“Even when I wasn’t on her team, I knew what the Phoenix locker room was saying. Like, ‘We’re gonna show her what the W is really about.’”

The Show Goes On — Without Barstool

Despite Barstool walking away, “Show Me Something” is off to a strong start, thanks to support from Cowherd and distribution across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Still, it raises the question: Without the massive machine of Barstool Sports behind it, can the show sustain long-term relevance?

Barstool has been behind some of the biggest podcast hits in sports media. Their rejection of Sophie’s show may not be a death sentence — but it’s definitely a curveball.

Online Reactions: Shock, Speculation, and Spilled Tea

Once Portnoy’s comments went public, the internet reacted with the usual mix of disbelief, hot takes, and meme-worthy content.

Fans of Sophie Cunningham expressed disappointment:

“This could’ve been legendary with Barstool behind it. Big miss.”

Barstool loyalists backed Portnoy’s call:

“She wasn’t committed. Why should Dave be?”

And then there were those who just wanted more drama:

“What really happened in those meetings? What aren’t they telling us?”

The Bigger Picture: Athletes as Brands

What this entire saga highlights is a growing trend in modern sports: athletes aren’t just competitors — they’re content creators, brands, and businesspeople.

And in that world, talent isn’t always enough. You need focus, vision, and a team that’s aligned.

As Portnoy put it, with a smirk:

“I like her. But I’m a little bit out on the whole thing.”

Final Thoughts: A Deal That Wasn’t Meant to Be?

So, was this a missed opportunity — or a bullet dodged?

From a business perspective, Dave Portnoy made a clear calculation: if a podcast requires more effort to manage than it’s worth, it’s better to walk away. From Sophie Cunningham’s perspective, she’s now running a show on her own terms — and unapologetically shaking up conversations around the WNBA.

One thing’s for sure: the intersection of sports, media, and personal branding is only getting more chaotic.

And Sophie Cunningham? Love her or hate her, she’s not afraid to stir the pot