From Rival to Protector: The Unlikely Teammate Who Became Caitlin Clark’s Fiercest Defender

Ever since Caitlin Clark first stepped onto a WNBA court, a target has been firmly planted on her back. She’s the generational talent who draws sellout crowds and record ratings, but she’s also the rookie-turned-superstar who has absorbed more than her fair share of hard fouls, cheap shots, and relentless physical opposition. In a challenging second season, as she navigates both injuries and the league’s toughest defenders, an unlikely hero has emerged to watch her back. That hero is Sophie Cunningham, a former rival who once admitted to plotting against Clark, and has now become her most ferocious protector.

It’s a storyline that feels ripped from a Hollywood script. Before joining the Indiana Fever, Cunningham was a key player for the Phoenix Mercury. In a moment of startling honesty on her new podcast, she pulled back the curtain on the league’s unofficial “welcome committee” for Clark. “Even when I wasn’t on her team, I know the talks that Phoenix had in their locker room,” Cunningham revealed, confirming what many fans have long suspected. The plan was to “show her what the W really is.” It was a confession that laid bare the coordinated effort by veteran players to physically intimidate the young star who was grabbing all the headlines.

But now, the game has changed. Cunningham wears the same Indiana Fever jersey as Clark, and her perspective has undergone a radical transformation. Seeing the constant aggression directed at her teammate night after night has flipped a switch. “Now being on her team and seeing it, I’m like, ‘What are people doing?’” Cunningham expressed with clear frustration. “It’s just too much. I’m over it. If I’m saying it’s too much, then it’s probably too much.”

Cunningham has done more than just talk. She has become the Fever’s de facto enforcer, the player willing to step in when the physicality crosses a line. Her fiery defense of her teammates has become a defining feature of the Fever’s newfound grit, a message to the rest of the league that the days of pushing Clark around without consequence are over.

This new role as protector extends beyond the court. Cunningham has used her media platform to launch a full-throated defense of Clark’s status in the sport, taking direct aim at the critics and naysayers who attempt to downplay her impact. In a particularly blunt podcast segment, she eviscerated those who argue Clark isn’t the face of the WNBA. “It literally pisses me off,” Cunningham stated. “When people try to argue that she’s not the face of our league or our league would be where we’re at without her, you’re dumb as s—. You’re literally dumb as f—.”

It’s a level of loyalty and fierce support that was not lost on Clark. In one poignant moment, Cunningham shared Clark’s private reaction after a game where her teammates had her back. In the sanctuary of the locker room, the often-stoic superstar revealed a glimpse of the weight she’s been carrying. “Finally!” Clark exclaimed. “Finally, someone else stands up for me.” It was a simple, powerful admission that underscored the relief of no longer having to fight her battles alone. Cunningham’s response was just as simple: “Dude, I got you.”

This unlikely alliance has been forged in the crucible of a tough season. With Clark battling a nagging groin injury that has kept her sidelined for multiple stretches, the need for her team to step up has been paramount. And they have. The Fever have shown remarkable resilience, stringing together wins even without their biggest star on the floor, fueled by a new sense of collective toughness that Cunningham embodies.

The dynamic between the former adversary and the league phenom has reshaped the identity of the Indiana Fever. It’s a powerful testament to how shared goals can turn rivals into allies. Sophie Cunningham didn’t just change teams; she changed her mission. She went from being one of the many players trying to test Caitlin Clark’s limits to the one making sure those limits are respected. In doing so, she’s not just protecting the league’s biggest asset; she’s helping to forge a team culture built on a simple, unbreakable promise: you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.