In professional sports, the “General Manager” is usually a guy in a suit sitting in an office. But in the modern era of the WNBA, the real power broker might just be a 23-year-old superstar with an iPhone.

Caitlin Clark, the generational talent who single-handedly reshaped the economic landscape of women’s basketball, has sent a clear message to the Indiana Fever front office. It wasn’t a private memo. It wasn’t a leaked rumor. It was a public demand posted for millions to see.

Responding to a throwback video posted by teammate Sophie Cunningham, Clark wrote three simple words: “It’s time to run it back.”

To the casual observer, it’s just two teammates bantering. Cunningham jokingly replied, “Only if you cuddle and make me dinner twice a week.” But for those paying attention to the terrifying logistics of the upcoming WNBA Expansion Draft, Clark’s comment is a warning shot. She has identified the teammate she wants in the trenches with her, and now the Fever front office has to figure out how to keep her—or risk alienating their franchise cornerstone.

The “Protector” Factor

Why is Sophie Cunningham so important? It’s not just about the stats. It’s about the scar tissue.

During Clark’s rookie season, she was targeted. It was physical, it was aggressive, and at times, it felt personal. While many teammates seemed hesitant to engage in the fray, Sophie Cunningham was the exception. She was the enforcer. She was the one physically defending Clark, getting in faces, and willing to scrap.

Fever fans remember that loyalty. More importantly, Caitlin Clark remembers it. In a league where chemistry is everything, you cannot put a price tag on a veteran who is willing to go to war for your star. By publicly campaigning for Cunningham’s return, Clark is signaling that she values that protection and camaraderie above almost anything else.

The Expansion Vultures are Circling

Here is the problem: The Indiana Fever are victims of their own success. They have a deep, talented roster, and the upcoming expansion draft—welcoming the Portland Fire and potentially a Toronto franchise—is designed to strip depth from good teams.

Current projections suggest teams will only be able to protect five or six players. The “locks” are obvious: Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. Lexi Hull has likely played her way into that group. If Kelsey Mitchell re-signs, she is a lock.

That leaves the Fever with a excruciating decision. Do they protect Sophie Cunningham?

If they don’t, she is gone. It is a certainty. Cunningham is an expansion team’s dream. She was the most searched WNBA athlete on Google in 2025 behind only Clark herself. She hosts a high-profile podcast on The Volume. She has a massive, independent personal brand that transcends the team she plays for. If you are starting a franchise in Portland and need to sell jerseys and generate buzz on Day 1, Sophie Cunningham is the first name on your draft board.

A Marketing Gold Mine

The value Cunningham brings extends far beyond the court. She is a content machine. Her “playful” negotiation with Clark about “cuddles and dinner” immediately went viral, driving engagement and keeping the Fever relevant even in the dead of the offseason.

This is the modern WNBA. It’s not just about wins and losses; it’s about “mindshare.” It’s about who people are talking about. The duo of Clark and Cunningham is a content gold mine. They are funny, they are relatable, and they clearly have a genuine friendship that fans are desperate to follow. Breaking that up wouldn’t just be a basketball mistake; it would be a marketing disaster.

The Front Office Test

This situation is the first major test for the Fever management in the “Caitlin Clark Era.” The superstar has spoken. She wants her teammate back.

If the front office tries to get cute—if they try to gamble that they can sneak Cunningham through the draft, or if they prioritize a “higher upside” prospect who has zero chemistry with Clark—they are playing with fire.

Imagine the optics: Caitlin Clark asks for one thing—to keep her friend and enforcer. The team fails to deliver. Cunningham goes to Portland and immediately becomes a fan favorite there. Clark is left frustrated, feeling unheard, and unprotected. That is how dynasties die before they even begin.

The Fever have the cap space. They have the flexibility. They just need the wisdom to do the obvious thing.

The Verdict

Sophie Cunningham might not be an MVP candidate. She might not lead the league in scoring. But she is the heartbeat of the Fever’s culture and the chosen running mate of the most important player on the planet.

Caitlin Clark said it best: “Run it back.”

The ball is in your court, Indiana. Don’t fumble it.