The American basketball community was rocked when Angel Reese dropped a bombshell ultimatum on Team USA. The fiery young star didn’t hold back, boldly warning:

“The moment Caitlin Clark joins this team, I’m out – I’m gone for good!”

This explosive statement sparked a firestorm, escalating the already tense rivalry between two of the brightest talents in women’s basketball to a whole new level. What was once mere speculation has now erupted into full-blown drama, captivating fans and analysts alike. Social media exploded with trending hashtags as supporters of Reese and Clark fiercely clashed:
Is Reese too arrogant, or is Clark being unfairly targeted?

Not letting the controversy simmer, Team USA’s head coach Cheryl Reeve fired back with a swift response. In a spirited interview, Reeve stated:

“We’re not building this team on personal feelings or egos. It’s about winning, not theatrics!”

While she avoided naming Reese or Clark directly, her message was crystal clear: there’s no room for drama in her plans. Known for her no-nonsense approach with Team USA and the Minnesota Lynx, Reeve seems ready to prioritize discipline above all else. But the question remains:

Will she keep Reese, with her explosive flair, or pave the way for Clark, seen by many as the future of American basketball?

Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark has opted for mysterious silence, only fueling the tension further. Rumors swirl that Clark is stepping away from the spotlight to avoid escalating the situation, but her quiet stance has ironically amplified the drama. Insiders suggest that the coaching staff is scrambling behind closed doors to resolve the crisis, perhaps even considering cutting one of the two stars to avoid further chaos.

For Reese, this isn’t her first brush with controversy, but this time, she may have backed herself into a corner. If Team USA chooses Clark, will Reese really walk away from her national team dreams to protect her pride? Fans are holding their breath for the next move.

With an international tournament looming, the pressure on Cheryl Reeve and her staff isn’t just about picking the right players – it’s about preserving Team USA’s image as an unstoppable force. This showdown between Reese and Clark could redefine how women’s basketball is perceived going forward.

If Reese follows through on her threat to “walk away for good,” it would be a massive blow to the team, but also a golden opportunity for Clark to shine without her rival’s shadow. Conversely, if Reeve chooses Reese over Clark, she risks backlash from those who see Clark as the sport’s next icon. Whatever the outcome, this saga is sure to leave a lasting mark on women’s basketball history.

Experts are already weighing in.

“The real issue is that the team needs unity, not headlines.” Others argue that Reeve should harness both stars, turning their friction into fuel for success. As opinions clash, Reese doubled down on social media:

“I say what I mean – don’t test me!”

Clark, meanwhile, remains focused on training, signaling that she is unbothered. With Reeve facing an impending deadline, the basketball world is waiting for the next twist in this captivating drama.

SEE MORE: Who is Sophie Cunningham? Caitlin Clark’s new ‘bodyguard’ teammate emerging as a WNBA icon

Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has become the second-most popular WNBA player among many circles of fans in recent days after aggressively protecting teammate Caitlin Clark from players who hit her.

During a game against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, Cunningham started a brawl between the two teams after several physical plays against Clark.

Cunningham’s persona and popularity skyrocketed in the days that followed, as she is slowly becoming an icon among the WNBA’s newer fans.

Cunningham’s follower count on social media has rapidly multiplied

June 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) in the second half against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

Prior to Tuesday’s game, Cunningham had fewer than 400,000 followers on TikTok.

At the time of publication, she has 1.2 million on TikTok and that number is only growing.

She has an estimated increase of more than 300,000 followers on Instagram since the game as well, with a total of more than 800,000 at the time of publication.

Sportico estimates that her increase in followers could be worth over $1 million.

“It’s unprecedented growth,” Addison Abdo, who represents Cunningham as a senior director at sports management agency PRP, told the outlet. “We work with some pretty big athletes that have gone viral for some pretty big things, but this has been something that I haven’t seen before—this type of growth in this short amount of time … was very new territory.”

Cunningham comes from a family of southern farmers

A five-part feature series by Cunningham’s alma mater, the University of Missouri, recounted her family’s southern farm roots.

Cunningham learned to ride horses and drove four-wheelers to the family’s grain silos.

“So much of our success goes back to what we learned here,” Cunningham said of working on the farm. “We loved coming out to the farm to help. We found out how to work hard and work together. It made us farm strong.”

Cunningham even had a special name for her farmer grandparents: “Maw Maw and Paw Paw.”

Cunningham played football with boys in high school

Cunningham was born into a family of athletes, as her parents, Jim and Paula Cunningham, each played sports at the University of Missouri. Her father played football, and her mother competed in track and field.

So Sophie ended up in sports right away.

She played girls’ basketball and volleyball at Rock Bridge High School in Missouri, but even ended up following in her dad’s footsteps on the football field.

A 2014 article by the Columbia Missourian reported that Cunningham was the first female to ever score any points for the team in history, when she kicked two of four extra points in place of the team’s regular kicker, who had suffered a torn ACL.

Cunningham even handled kick-off duties.

“I was so nervous,” Cunningham told the outlet. “I mean, I’ve never played football before in all my life. Right when I got the ball (on the opening kickoff), I couldn’t hear anything. I just put the ball down and kicked it.”

Cunningham has been able to fight since she was a very young child

With Cunningham earning the nickname “the enforcer” for the Fever, fans counting on her to protect Caitlin Clark can take confidence in knowing she is a black belt in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo.

She earned the black belt at just the tender age of six.

Cunningham’s martial arts experience earned the affection of ESPN host Pat McAfee.

“It feels like Caitlin Clark is going to get treated in a certain way in this league for a long time. She’s not a rookie anymore. She has already proved herself. She has won. And then there was some ladies last night that were trying to get a little physical,” McAfee said during an episode of his show Wednesday.

May 17, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) poses for a photo on Saturday, May 17, 2025, before a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.  (Grace Smith- Imagn Images via IndyStar)

“And last year, I think something we noticed… when Caitlin would get bullied, nobody would do nothing… They bring in Sophie Cunningham, I had no idea Sophie Cunningham was a black belt at the age of six! Boom! ‘Jacy Sheldon, that’s cute. You want to poke [Clark] in the eye?… I’ll take a take-foul, and you’ll eat the deck a little bit here.’”

Cunningham was once criticized for wearing a hat that resembled a MAGA hat

Back in June of last year, Cunningham posted a photo of herself wearing a red hat with white text on social media, and swarms of critics rushed to speak out against her for perceived support of Donald Trump.

June 17, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) and Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon (4) get into a fight in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)

However, the hat simply said “Hot Cowgirl Summer.”

Cunningham’s team at the time, the Phoenix Mercury, even had to make a post from the official team account to clarify what the hat said.

OutKick has previously reported that Cunningham has been regularly criticized by WNBA fans who have nicknamed her “MAGA Barbie.”

Cunningham’s official political views are unknown.