Sophie Cunningham Stands Up for Caitlin Clark, Gains Massive Fan Support

Indiana Fever’s key reserve Sophie Cunningham has made headlines this week after fiercely defending teammate Caitlin Clark during a late-game incident against the Connecticut Sun. Cunningham’s flagrant foul on Sun guard Jacy Sheldon, which sparked a minor altercation with 46 seconds left, earned her a league fine. However, the backlash was quickly overshadowed by a surge in her popularity.

In just one week, Cunningham’s TikTok followers jumped by over 700,000, and her jersey sold out at the Indiana team store, reflecting her rising fanbase. Known as Clark’s “enforcer,” Cunningham was acquired in a four-team trade from the Phoenix Mercury this offseason to bolster Indiana’s bench.

During a recent Instagram Q&A, Cunningham humorously addressed questions about her relationship status, sharing a playful video from the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.

A 2019 second-round pick, Cunningham averaged a career-best 12.6 points with Phoenix. In 2025, she’s contributing solid minutes for the Fever despite a recent ankle injury.

After a tough loss to Golden State, star Kelsey Mitchell emphasized the team’s need for greater toughness and resilience—something Cunningham exemplifies.