Sophie Cunningham has quietly become one of the Indiana Fever’s most valuable players this season — not just with her shooting and hustle, but with the way she’s stepped up for Caitlin Clark.
Since Clark entered the WNBA as the No. 1 pick in 2024, she’s carried both the spotlight and the weight of being a target. Opposing veterans have gone at her physically, testing her toughness in ways that frustrated fans. That’s where Cunningham came in.
Once considered a role player with no clear identity, she’s grown into both a scoring threat and a protective presence. On Tuesday, she joined “The Young Man and The Three” podcast and opened up about how her game has drawn comparisons to Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who has long been seen as Steph Curry’s on-court protector.
“I don’t mind Draymond,” Cunningham told host Tommy Alter (39:45). “I’m not saying I am that role… But what I was saying, giving him his flowers because when you’re on a team with a superstar, people do go for them. I don’t care what anyone says, there’s a different type of effort and extraness to try to maybe get in their head or try to throw them off the rhythm.”
While no one in the Fever locker room assigned her the role, Sophie Cunningham has embraced it naturally. She’s become the one who pushes back, ensuring Clark can focus on playing her game.
“You can’t”: Sophie Cunningham on where toughness comes from
For Sophie Cunningham, toughness isn’t something you can fake — or teach. It’s a mindset, and one that’s carried her through ups and downs in her career.
When asked on the same podcast if toughness could be coached, she didn’t hesitate.
“No, I don’t,” Cunningham said (27:05). “I think that it’s a mentality and you can always work on your mental and I think people can get there. But the toughness that you actually need to be successful in this league, to last in this league… you can’t.”
Although her season ended early with an MCL tear against the Connecticut Sun on August 17, Cunningham’s presence hasn’t faded. From the sidelines, she’s continued to back her teammates, bringing the same edge and energy that made her a fan favorite.
Even without being on the court, her message is clear: Caitlin Clark may be the star, but Sophie Cunningham is making sure she’s never standing alone.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
