From All‑Star Champs to Controversy: Why StudBudz Are Under Fire
- WATCH HER PLAY
- Jul 25
- 2 min read
Minnesota Lynx guards Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman, better known to fans as the StudBudz, burst into the spotlight during the 2025 WNBA All‑Star Weekend. Their 72‑hour Twitch stream gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at All‑Star life and the duo’s infectious personalities—which even caught the enthusiastic attention of Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy.Portnoy praised the StudBudz effusively, calling their stream better marketing for the league than anything the WNBA had done in its history.
Buoyed by that shoutout, the StudBudz now say they’ve discussed inviting Portnoy onto their livestream. Their aim: to press him face-to-face—specifically about his well-documented criticism of Angel Reese. Williams stated, “When Dave comes on, we’re gonna ask him, ‘Hey Dave, why are you talking about Angel like that?’ Because we love her bad”
This idea has catalyzed intense backlash across the WNBA fan community. Many perceive Portnoy as not just controversial, but actively harmful:
Angel Reese supporters point to Portnoy’s decades of demeaning commentary toward a 23‑year-old Reese, including calling her a “classless piece of sh*t” and encouraging others to hate her—all while publicly championing her rival, Caitlin Clark.
Other supporters took more drastic measures by immediately cancelling their subscription to the Studbudz Twitch channel.
TikTok sport content creator arperry01 (Angela Perry) made a video explaining why having Portnoy on their platform puts StudBudz at odds with many segments of their base who see Portnoy as emblematic of misogyny and, at times, racism.
Despite mounting criticism, Williams and Hiedeman have doubled down—and Portnoy has chimed in defending the dialogue:
But this situation is not just drama, it has highlighted several different points:
Brand-building vs. values
StudBudz have emerged as powerful content creators within women’s sports. Partnering with a mainstream figure like Portnoy could open doors—but at what cost to community trust and identity?
Lack of formal guidance
Many WNBA players operate their own streams without established PR or media support. As one commentary noted, players often navigate these crossroads without professional advisory backing
Fan base identity tension
The WNBA’s growth post‑2024 has brought in broader audiences—but also intensified the divide between legacy fans who value social justice-centered fanship and those drawn by celebrity coverage or outsider engagement.
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