đĽCaitlin Clark shows her disappointment as Indiana Fever lose to Las Vegas Aces
WNBA star Sophie Cunningham has launched a stunning attack on referees for failing to protect the leagueâs top talent.
The 28-year-old Indiana Fever guard has been dubbed Caitlin Clarkâs âenforcerâ after her role in a wild brawl against the Connecticut Sun earlier this month.
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Sophie Cunninghamâs role in a brawl with the Connecticut Sun has made her a fan favoriteCredit: AP
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The 28-year-old has claimed refs have failed to protect teammate Caitlin ClarkCredit: AP
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Clark, the 2024 No. 1 pick, won the WNBAâs Rookie of the Year last seasonCredit: Getty
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Cunningham joined the Fever in January and wants more protection for the leagueâs young starsCredit: Getty
Cunningham tussled with Sun players after former No. 1 pick Clark was victim of a number of hard fouls.
The Missouri native â who joined the Fever in January â has since become a viral sensation.
Sales of her jersey have skyrocketed among WNBA fans after her ejection against the Sun.
But Cunningham believes Clark â and a host of the leagueâs other young stars â are not getting enough protection.
âI think the refs had a lot to do with that,â Cunningham told reporters on Saturday, referring to the brawl.
âIt was a build up for a couple years now of them not protecting the star player in the WNBA.
âAnd so at the end of the day, Iâm going to protect my teammates, thatâs what I do.â
âAnd Iâm a team player, so itâs all good.â
âSophie saying the quiet part out loud as a player. Love to see it,â responded on fan on X.
âThe rest of her teammates should take notice,â declared another.
WNBA admits referees were wrong and hand out major punishment over Caitlin Clark controversy in Fever-Sun
Cunninghamâs combative approach has not been a hit with every WNBA fan.
The Fever star threw Suns opponent Jacy Sheldon to the ground to spark the melee last week.
It came after Sheldon had earlier fouled Clark in a bad-tempered match.
Cunningham has since been fined by the WNBA for the Flagrant-2 fouls
But some fans want the league to go even further.
A petition to have Cunningham REMOVED from the league has already amassed hundreds of signatures.
It cites ârepeated displays of unsportsmanlike conductâ from the guard that have âtarnished the reputation of the WNBAâ.
The petition also claims Cunningham âcompromised the safety of other playersâ as it urged the league to take rigorous action.
Cunningham grew up in Colombia, Missouri, with her sporting prowess evident before sheâd even left the first grade.
The young Sophie earned her Taekwondo black belt at the age of just SIX.
And in high school, her sporting talents even extended to the football field.
Short of a kicker after he went down with an ACL injury, Rock Bridge High Schoolâs desperate coach called on Cunningham to step in for kicking duties.
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The WNBA came calling in 2019 after the 6-foot-1 Cunningham impressed for the Missouri Tigers.
She spent five seasons with the Phoenix Mercury before joining the Fever earlier this year.
June 22â23, 2025 â The incident that ignited the WNBA community đĽ
Sophie Cunningham, the fearless guard of the Indiana Fever, didnât hesitate to publicly call out the WNBA referees when she decided to âstep upâ and protect star rookie Caitlin Clark during the intense June 17 match against the Connecticut Sun.
Tensions rose in the third quarter when Connecticutâs Jacy Sheldon appeared to poke Clark in the eye, followed by Marina Mabrey shoving her to the floor. Both were assessed minor penalties â a Flagrantâ1 for Sheldon, with no ejections issued.
Then came the shocking moment: with just 46 seconds left and the Fever leading 87â70, Cunningham grabbed and threw Sheldon to the groundâclearly not making a play for the ball. Result? Flagrantâ2 and immediate ejection from the game.
Afterward, Cunningham didnât mince words. In interviews and social media posts, she made it clear:
âI protect my teammates â thatâs my job.â
Fans responded in droves, hailing her as âCaitlin Clarkâs bodyguardâ and praising her for having the guts to do what referees wouldnât. Supporters flooded social media with admiration, saying:
âNo one messes with Clark without paying the price!â
Some even dubbed her a âsteel shieldâ, a force of justice on the court. One online petition even called for her suspension, though it was quickly withdrawn after backlash from fans who argued she was simply standing up for whatâs right.
Analysts, like those quoted in Yardbarker, pointed fingers at the referees, saying:
âThe officiating is outdated â and Cunningham just proved it.â
Though fined for her Flagrantâ2 foul, Cunningham remains defiant, stating sheâd do it again if necessary.
The debate is raging across the WNBA:
Some hail her as a hero who stepped in when the league failed to protect its rising star.
Others criticize her for excessive violence and escalating the situation unnecessarily.
đĽÂ The Big Picture
Protector or aggressor? Cunningham filled the void left by the refs â but crossed a legal line.
A wake-up call for the WNBA:Â Her actions spotlight a growing concern about inconsistent officiating.
Rise of the enforcer role:Â The young player turned herself into a symbol of protection â and fans loved it.
All eyes now turn to this weekendâs Indiana Fever vs. Las Vegas Aces showdown:
Will Sophie play? Will her aggression spark change? And will Caitlin Clark finally get the protection she deserves?
The WNBA is at a crossroads: will they tighten officiating standards â or allow enforcers like Cunningham to keep the peace?
What do you think of Sophieâs move â admirable defense or an over-the-top response? Stay tuned, because the firestorm is far from over.
