Sophie Cunningham came to Indiana this season as the Fever GM Amber Cox welcomed her as “the perfect fit.” After being drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the second round (13th overall) of the 2019 WNBA Draft, the Fever franchise acquired her as part of the largest trade in WNBA history – a deal involving franchises Connecticut, Dallas, and Phoenix. “She is a fierce competitor, works incredibly hard on both ends of the floor, and is one of the best shooters in our league. We are excited to add her to our squad,” added Cox. And so far, Cunningham has lived up to every word, settling into her new team with ease.
It showed during a tense game between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun when Sophie emerged as a protector for her teammate. During the game, Jacy Sheldon poked Caitlin Clark in the eye. That prompted Caitlin Clark to shove back and spark a physical exchange. Then, just moments later, Sun guard Marina Mabrey escalated things by throwing Clark to the floor. Finally, it was Sophie Cunningham’s response in the final minutes that defined the night. Being a taekwondo black belt, she delivered a hard, above-the-shoulder foul to Sheldon.
That play led to Cunningham, Sheldon, and Lindsay Allen being ejected, with Cunningham also receiving a fine. However, in the audience’s heart, the play secured a place as an act of standing up for her teammate. But why risk contact like that for a teammate? It’s because the Fever squad has a special relationship, one that extends way beyond the hardwood. As Cunningham herself recently revealed, “I really do think this is a really unique and special team. In the locker room, we really do love each other. We love spending time together.”
While constantly laughing, she added, “Our practices, I’m not going to lie, are long. And sometimes we have to hold hands and be like, “Hey, we’re going to get through.” And not just that – she has judged her experience relatively as well. “But this is a team that I have never felt like this in the W. And I’ve been in it for seven years,” revealed Sophie. This statement points towards her older Mercury squad. Seems like Cunningham is as grateful as Cox to be a part of the Fever franchise. Finally, she revealed, “We’re at our best when we’re having fun.”
Their definition of fun, you ask? Goofy hairstyles and funny social media posts. It all started when the Indiana Fever posted a few snapshots from a practice session. The series of pictures had Sophie Cunningham running with a very unique hairstyle. In Sophie’s head, it looked like a half-down hairstyle (just like Lexie Hull’s signature look). But the reality was far from that. A few strands slipped out, and the bun split into two parts and somehow ended up looking like an ace symbol. And Caitlin Clark took the perfect chance to roast her teammate in a playful way. She reposted the story on her Instagram account with a cheeky caption. “@Sophie Cunningham love this hairstyle.”
While the Indiana Fever players love to have fun together, they’re just as present for one another when times get tough. That support was evident recently when Lexie Hull shared the heartbreaking news that her 14-year-old dog, Maggie, had passed away. She took to Instagram and wrote, “14 years with the sweetest mags! home won’t be the same without you! heaven got the best girl this week.” Needless to say, within a few minutes, her teammates showed up in the comment section with genuine support. “Love you. Doggie heaven,” wrote Caitlin Clark. Whereas Sophie Cunningham added: “nooooo Lex, I’m sorry.” Aliyah Boston also chimed in with a simple yet warm message, “Awww sorry Lex.”
That’s Indiana Fever for you, a team that fights hard, laughs loud, and always shows up for each other, on and off the court, and here’s how they got back on track tonight.
Sophie Cunningham Finally Felt Good
The Indiana Fever broke their two-game losing streak with a 99-82 victory last night over the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That win marked their second-highest scoring game of the season and even tied the season series with Atlanta at 2-2. Now at 10-10, the Fever will wrap up their five-game homestand against the Dallas Wings on Sunday.
All of it could play out the way it did because Indiana’s All-Star trio delivered big. Kelsey Mitchell led the team with 25 points, Aliyah Boston added 19 points, a career-high eight assists, and six rebounds before fouling out, and Caitlin Clark chipped in 12 points and nine assists in her second game back from injury. Although, despite the win, Caitlin Clark’s shooting woes continued.
She went 5-of-17 from the field and 1-of-7 from three. That extended her 3-point slump to 4-of-35 over her last five games. But the real spark came from the bench. Sophie Cunningham exploded for a season-high 16 points and 10 rebounds, securing her second career double-double. “It’s about dang time,” she said postgame. “It finally felt good.”
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