The Indiana Fever’s practice facility buzzes with a new kind of energy. It’s more than just the arrival of Caitlin Clark, the most hyped rookie in WNBA history, or the franchise’s renewed push for relevance. It’s the unmistakable presence of Sophie Cunningham—a veteran with a taekwondo black belt, a fearless attitude, and a reputation for never backing down. Together, Clark and Cunningham are forging a partnership that’s sending shockwaves through the league, and fans are already whispering: is this the duo the WNBA never saw coming?
A Breath of Fresh Air
When Sophie Cunningham first addressed the Fever’s training camp, her words set the tone: “Everyone’s in it for the right reason. You have great energy. You have great people. At the end of the day, everyone’s putting aside their agendas and doing what’s best for the team. And let me tell you, it is refreshing.” For Cunningham, this was more than just another stop in her career. After years with the Phoenix Mercury, learning from legends like Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner, she was ready for a new challenge—and Indiana was hungry for her edge.
The Fever, battered through Clark’s rookie season by relentless physicality and cheap shots, needed more than just talent. They needed an enforcer. Every great player, every championship team, has one: the player who draws a line in the sand and dares opponents to cross it. For Clark, who had been targeted by hard screens, elbows, and body checks—absorbing nearly 17% of all flagrant fouls in the league last season—Cunningham’s arrival was a game-changer.
The League’s “Punching Bag” Fights Back
Clark’s rookie year was supposed to be a coronation. Drafted first overall, she arrived with record-smashing college stats and a fan base that packed arenas coast to coast. But the excitement quickly turned sour. Game after game, Clark was battered—most infamously by Chicago’s Kennedy Carter, whose shoulder sent Clark sprawling on a fast break, and by Angel Reese, who mixed physical play with relentless trash talk.
Theories swirled. Was it jealousy from veterans who’d waited years for attention and endorsement deals? Was it a strategy to rattle the rookie and disrupt her game? Whatever the reason, the physicality crossed the line, and referees often looked the other way. Clark never complained publicly, but her bruises told the story.
Indiana’s front office watched closely. Their response was swift and calculated. They hired head coach Stephanie White, a proven strategist. They added veterans with championship pedigrees: Natasha Howard, a three-time WNBA champion; Dana Bonner, a playoff legend; and Sydney Colson, a two-time title winner. But their boldest move was trading for Sophie Cunningham.
Sophie’s Statement
Cunningham wasn’t just another shooter—though her 37.8% career three-point mark is impressive. She brought a mentality the Fever desperately needed. At her first training camp, Cunningham grabbed the microphone and declared, “I’m here to make sure nobody takes cheap shots at our players. That stops now.” In a league where players often stick to safe sound bites, her words hit like a thunderclap.
She wasn’t just talking about Clark. She was setting a tone for the entire team. “That’s not basketball. That’s not happening on my watch,” she told reporters. Cunningham had learned from the best, and she understood the responsibility of protecting a superstar.
Instant Impact
Cunningham wasted no time showing she meant business. In the Fever’s preseason opener against the Washington Mystics, she dropped 21 points—including clutch threes that powered Indiana to a 79-74 overtime win. But it was her physical presence that stole the show. When Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen body-slammed her chasing a loose ball, Cunningham popped up unfazed. Later, when Britney Sykes knocked her down, Dana Bonner stepped in, sending a message: mess with one Fever player, you deal with the whole squad.
Fans took notice. Social media lit up with praise for the new “Showtime Fever.” Cunningham, grinning in the postgame, joked about needing to hit the weight room but praised Bonner’s backup. This was the enforcer Clark needed, and she was already changing the team’s culture.
Chemistry on and off the Court
But Cunningham’s impact goes beyond grit and toughness. She’s versatile, able to play any position from point guard to power forward, giving Coach White endless lineup options. In practice, she’s directing traffic, calling out screens, and keeping Clark safe from blindside hits—allowing Clark to focus on what she does best: dropping dimes and breaking records.
Off the court, the chemistry between Clark and Cunningham is electrifying fans. Their playful Instagram banter—Clark teasing Cunningham’s media day tan, Cunningham firing back about Clark’s style—shows a bond that’s building trust and unity. Cunningham told Fox News Digital, “We want a team where we know and love each other off the court, because that translates to on-court trust.” For Clark, who faced isolation as a rookie, this support is everything.
More Than an Enforcer
Cunningham’s arrival hasn’t been without drama. Some fans have questioned her outspoken political views, worried about locker room tension in a league known for progressive values. But Cunningham has kept her focus on basketball, insisting she’s here to win, not stir debates. Clark, too, faces critics—some veterans reportedly resent the attention she’s brought to the WNBA. Cunningham’s response? “If you’re not seeing what she’s done for women’s basketball, I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
Both players are navigating the noise, but their chemistry suggests they’re stronger together. The Fever’s ambitions go beyond protection—they’re chasing a championship. With Howard’s defensive prowess, Bonner’s veteran savvy, and Colson’s clutch experience, this roster is stacked. Add in young stars like Aaliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, and Indiana is a problem for any opponent.
A New Standard
Cunningham is more than just Clark’s bodyguard. She’s a symbol of a franchise refusing to let talent be dimmed by cheap shots or old grudges. Her promise to stop the rough play isn’t just about Clark—it’s about reshaping the WNBA’s competitive landscape. With a $78 million training facility opening in 2027 and a roster dripping with experience, Indiana is laying the foundation for a dynasty.
Will Clark and Cunningham lead the Fever to a title? That’s the question buzzing from Indianapolis to every corner of the league. One thing’s certain: the days of targeting Caitlin Clark without consequences are over. The Indiana Fever are no longer just a playoff hopeful—they’re a contender, built to protect their star and demand respect.
So, as the 2025 season tips off, all eyes are on Indiana. The revolution is here, and it’s led by a duo the league never saw coming.
Caitlin Clark’s New Teammate Turns Heads in Viral Video
The Indiana Fever have been busy this offseason, making major moves like hiring new head coach Stephanie White.
Just a few months later, the team traded for guard Sophie Cunningham as part of a three-team deal that sent the No. 2 pick in 2020, Satou Sabally, to the Phoenix Mercury from the Dallas Wings, who received point guard Ty Harris and the rights to Mikiah “Kiki” Herbert Harrigan from Phoenix and NaLyssa Smith from the Fever.
Cunningham immediately endeared herself to Fever fans by paying Clark the ultimate compliment and likening her to Taylor Swift.
“I told people upstairs I will be her Sabrina Carpenter any day to her Taylor Swift,” Cunningham said at the time. “I am so excited for this. I just think that she’s a great human too. She’s got a lot of pressure [on her shoulders] and a lot of eyes on her and she just nails it so gracefully and she’s just a great human so I’m just excited to be a part of something like that.”
Earlier this week, the talented guard took to social media to show off her new uniform for the first time. “hello Gainbridge,” she said referencing the Fever’s home stadium while dancing to Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.
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Fans couldn’t get enough of the video, which racked up 400,000 views in less than 24 hours.
“As a lifelong Indy fan since last year welcome to the team,” one fan said.
“You are going to be perfect in Indiana. Can’t wait to watch you ladies play,” said another.
“Pumped you’re in Indy. The team won’t only be good, it will be fun. You and Syd – it will be a riot,” offered another.
During the 2024 regular season, Cunningham averaged 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, two assists and one steal per game.
