Sophie Cunningham Leads the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever to Commissioner’s Cup Victory — Then Sparks Locker Room Buzz with Viral Celebration and Expansion Commentary

The Indiana Fever may have been missing their biggest star, but they weren’t short on firepower—or personality—on Tuesday night.

With All-Star rookie guard Caitlin Clark sidelined due to a groin strain, veteran forward Sophie Cunningham stepped up in a major way, helping propel the Fever to a stunning 74-59 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Final.

Natasha Howard was dominant with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, leading a balanced Indiana attack. Cunningham contributed 13 crucial points, while Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Aari McDonald each added 12. The Fever showed resilience, overcoming an early 13-point deficit with a gritty defensive effort and timely shot-making.

Sophie Cunningham (Photos via Twitter)

Minnesota, who came into the game with the best record in the league, suffered their worst offensive performance of the season, managing to shoot just 34.9% from the field. The Fever’s defensive intensity played a major role in disrupting the Lynx’s usually efficient offensive rhythm.

But the defining moment of the night came in the fourth quarter, just as Minnesota looked poised to mount a late comeback.

With the Lynx cutting the Fever’s lead to 60-51 midway through the final period and the crowd starting to buzz, Cunningham stepped into a deep three and drained it with confidence, her third of the night. The shot silenced the crowd and all but sealed the game for Indiana, earning Cunningham widespread praise for her composure and clutch play.

Clark, sidelined since June 24 with a groin injury, was seen cheering her teammates on from the bench. Despite her absence, the Fever never looked rattled—largely due to the leadership of veterans like Howard and the fiery energy of Cunningham.

After the final buzzer, the celebration was on.

The team’s locker room was electric, and with thousands of fans watching via Instagram Live, Sophie Cunningham made sure the energy didn’t fade. In a lighthearted and unexpected moment, she broke into a playful twerk in front of the camera, sending fans into a frenzy. Social media lit up instantly, with fans posting clips, reactions, and plenty of laughter-filled commentary.

“Sophie’s got moves,” one fan tweeted. “She’s not just clutch on the court!”

Another added: “Win a Cup. Hit the big shot. Twerk for the ‘Gram. Sophie Cunningham MVP behavior.”

But Cunningham wasn’t done making headlines. In the postgame media availability, she weighed in on the league’s recent expansion decisions—and didn’t hold back.

The WNBA announced earlier this week that it would be adding three new teams: Cleveland in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and Philadelphia in 2030. The expansion will bring the league to 18 teams by the start of the next decade. While many have applauded the move, Cunningham had her own opinions about which cities should have been prioritized—and where players would most enjoy playing.

“I also think that you want to listen to your players, too,” Cunningham said. “Where do they want to play? Where are they gonna get excited to play and draw fans?”

She specifically mentioned Miami, Nashville, and Kansas City as missed opportunities.

“Miami would’ve been a great location—everyone loves Florida,” she said. “Nashville is an amazing city. Kansas City? Amazing opportunity. There’s a huge arena downtown that no one’s using.”

She also referenced the success of Kansas City’s National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) franchise, the KC Current, which is co-owned by NFL star Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany Mahomes. The Current have drawn strong attendance and support from local fans, something Cunningham believes the WNBA could replicate.

Sophie Cunningham (Photo By Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Cunningham clarified that while she understands the league needs to be cautious about expanding too fast, the choices of Cleveland and Detroit didn’t exactly inspire enthusiasm among many players.

“I’m not so sure what the thought process is there,” she said. “At the end of the day, you want to make sure that you’re growing the league the right way. But man, I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or Cleveland.”

Her comments quickly went viral, stirring both support and criticism online. Some fans and analysts agreed with her, suggesting the league could have capitalized more on cities with vibrant nightlife and built-in fan engagement potential. Others felt her comments came off as dismissive to cities with rich sports histories.

Still, few could deny that Sophie Cunningham had a night to remember—on and off the court.

From drilling a dagger three-pointer to celebrating with flair, to sharing her unfiltered thoughts on league expansion, Cunningham emerged as a face of the Fever’s grit and personality. With Caitlin Clark sidelined, it was Cunningham who reminded everyone that Indiana is more than just one player.

And for fans who tuned in just for basketball, they got much more: a championship, a viral dance, and a dose of candid commentary from one of the league’s boldest voices.

As the Fever prepare for Clark’s return and continue their push toward playoff contention, one thing is clear—Sophie Cunningham is ready to lead, ready to speak her mind, and ready to have fun doing it.