Caitlin Clark & Sophie Cunningham: Early Bonds, Injury Trials, and Indiana’s Surprise Surge

When Sophie Cunningham was traded from the Phoenix Mercury to the Indiana Fever during the offseason, few could have predicted how quickly she and Caitlin Clark would form a tight bond—one that has fueled rumor mills about their rapport extending beyond friendship.

A Budding Bond in Indy

Arriving in Indianapolis in late January 2025 as part of a blockbuster four-team deal, Cunningham instantly found herself in a familiar rhythm with Clark—and the two have barely looked back since Wikipedia+15SI+15yardbarker.com+15Reddit. On social media and in team coverage, fans have picked up on affectionate moments—hugs, shared smiles, and inside jokes—sparking speculation that they’re intentionally keeping whispers alive about their relationship “off court.”

Their quick connection appears to be mutual. Cunningham had once publicly expressed her desire to play with Clark while still with Phoenix, saying, “If you ever want to come to Phoenix, let me know”—words that now sound prophetic given where she ended up Reddit.

Fever’s Season Under New Leadership

Under first‑year head coach Stephanie White, Indiana has shown surprising cohesion and energy in 2025. White has leaned into the depth of her roster, and the Cunningham‑Clark tandem has emerged as a defining pairing for the Fever’s spirited rebuild Bleacher Report+11Swish Appeal+11SI+11.

Navigating Clark’s Injury Wave

Caitlin Clark, already a media sensation and rookie record‑setter, has battled multiple injuries this season. She strained her left quadriceps on May 24 against the New York Liberty and was sidelined for at least two weeks Reddit+15Wikipedia+15Bleacher Report+15. She briefly returned in June—leading the Fury to a franchise record 17 three‑pointers in a comeback win—but by late June suffered a left groin strain and mid‑July a right groin issue, sidelining her for the foreseeable future SBNation.com+7Wikipedia+7ESPN.com+7.

By mid‑July, Clark had already missed over a dozen games—just 13 of 25 appearances as of late July—with no clear return timeline, as medical staff insisted on a careful recovery plan ReutersTalkSportAP News.

Still, the Fever have managed to stay afloat in Clark’s absence, rallying around veteran leadership and adapting their offensive flow AP News+5SI+5SI+5.

Sophie Cunningham Steps Up

As Clark healed, Cunningham quickly became the go‑to playmaker. In games Clark missed in May, Indiana leaned heavily on Cunningham and Sydney Colson to guide the backcourt. Cunningham, with her reliable outside shooting and two‑way defense, proved vital—even as she recovered from an early ankle injury athlonsports.com+6SI+6SI+6.

In a loss to the Connecticut Sun on May 29, Cunningham delivered just 2 points in 20 minutes but immediately identified the emotional toll of missing Clark. “Kind of a gut punch” was how she described the loss—a sign how much she’d come to rely on her teammate’s presence SI.

When both Clark and Cunningham were injured in the same game (May 30), the Fever signed Aari McDonald under the WNBA’s emergency hardship rule to keep playing ten eligible players Wikipedia+2athlonsports.com+2www.hardwoodheroics.com+2. Head Coach White emphasized that their offseason improvements meant they were prepared—even in Clark’s absence—to find a new team identity SI+1www.hardwoodheroics.com+1.

A Team Finds Its Identity

Without Clark, Indiana’s offense lost its usual gallop—fast break points plummeted from 12.3 per game (tied 3rd in the WNBA with her) to just 3.8 per game, dead last in the league SI+1New York Post+1. Their scoring average dropped too: from 88.0 points per game with Clark to 76.4 without her, one of the lowest marks in the league SI.

Still, Fever fans pointed out the silver linings: better spacing, greater ball sharing, and contributions from depth pieces like Kelsey Mitchell and Aari McDonald Wikipedia+5Swish Appeal+5New York Post+5. ESPN analyst Carolyn Peck even suggested Indiana was “more dangerous” without Clark—arguing that her ball‑dominant style had become predictable, and her absence forced the team to diversify New York Post.

Reunion and Breakthrough: June 14 Win vs Liberty

On June 14, Clark returned in style—scoring 32 points, including six threes, fueling the Fever’s comeback to hand the previously unbeaten Liberty their first loss of the season. Indiana’s 17 made threes set a franchise record, and the win marked a turning point in their chemistry under pressure SBNation.com+1Wikipedia+1.

Cunningham, still easing back from injury, returned with a renewed purpose. Her shooting and defense have since made her a fan favorite in Indianapolis, with supporters frequently calling her “goddess and hero” after standout games the-sun.com.

Team Progress Amid Struggles

Through mid‑season, the Fever hovered near .500. As of late July, Indiana stood at 13–12 and clinging to the sixth playoff spot, 2.5 games ahead of the Sparks the-sun.com.

Despite inconsistency—coach Stephanie White called out poor shooting, rebounding, and a lack of physicality in some losses—Indiana’s ability to adapt without Clark and rely on Cunningham and others has kept their playoff hopes alive Swish Appeal+1SI+1.

The Stats: Clark & Cunningham’s 2025 Output

Caitlin Clark: in 40 games last year averaged ~19.2 points, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds WikipediaWikipedia. In 2025, through 13 games she averaged ~18.2 points, 8.9 assists, and 5.0 rebounds New York PostWikipediaBleacher Report.

Sophie Cunningham: in prior years averaged ~10.5 points per game and a career 36.3% from three-point range—Indiana sees her as a chief source of perimeter offense in Clark’s absence yardbarker.com+1SI+1.

Rumors, Teammates & Team Culture

The affectionate moments between Clark and Cunningham—captured in Imagn Images photos of embraces and sea‑blonde hair in motion—have driven fan speculation. Clark playfully captioned one training post: “I love this hair.” The warmth and ease between them, both on social and in the locker room, intensify buzz about a closeness that feels beyond just teammates athlonsports.com.

Looking Ahead: Championship Hopes & Health First

Clark’s long‑term health remains the Fever’s top priority. With her injuries stacking—and no schedule set for return—the organization is proceeding cautiously. They’re prioritizing her conditioning and practice ramp-up before bringing her back to full game intensity New York Post+2TalkSport+2AP News+2.

As of late July, analysts warn that while Clark’s return would reinforce Indiana’s playoff push, the team must fix rebounding and defensive lapses to truly contend in the tough Eastern Conference Swish AppealSBNation.com.

Final Word: An Evolving Duo

Caitlin Clark: still one of the league’s most exciting young stars, despite injury setbacks. Her sophomore season has seen a dip in shooting efficiency and availability, but she remains a potent playmaker and fan magnet TalkSportThe Guardian.

Sophie Cunningham: quietly impactful veteran, now flourishes beside Clark. In Clark’s absence, she’s stepped up as a central force in the offense and a vocal leader—even while rumors swirl about their personal connection.

Together, Clark and Cunningham have reshaped Indiana’s identity, testing the limits of chemistry, performance, and speculation. Whether it’s their on-court synergy or the whispered closeness that fuels fan intrigue, this pairing has reshaped Indiana Fever’s 2025 narrative—and possibly WNBA storylines to come.