Caitlin Clark’s second season with the Indiana Fever has turned into a test of resilience far beyond what anyone expected. The superstar guard who captivated the basketball world as a rookie now finds herself fighting battles both on and off the court, while dealing with injuries that have limited her to just half of her team’s games.
Why Has Caitlin Clark’s Sophomore Season Been So Challenging?
In her second season, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft and reigning Rookie of the Year was supposed to show great improvement. Instead, Clark has struggled with a series of setbacks that have defined her 2024-25 campaign.
The Fever have shown improvement as a team, posting a 15-12 record. Although Clark herself has remained extremely popular, she has been plagued by injuries that have kept her off the court more than on it.
Clark has only played in 13 of the Fever’s 27 games, making it a battle in the contests where she has suited up. She’s averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting only 36.7% from the field, 27.9% from beyond the arc and 82.0% from the charity stripe.
Beyond the physical challenges, Clark recently had her stalker arrested and pleaded guilty. Additionally, other teams have tried to bully Clark throughout the season, with their harsh treatment becoming increasingly blatant.
How Has Sophie Cunningham Defended Her Teammate?
Clark’s Fever teammate, guard Sophie Cunningham, has come to the aid of Clark on several occasions this season. She has been recognized as somewhat of an enforcer after a recent game against the Sun when she grabbed Jacy Sheldon, pulling her to the ground after Sheldon poked Clark in the eye.
Cunningham has even had some inspired words for the way WNBA officials have handled Clark’s situation and was fined for her TikTok video that shows her lip-syncing to lyrics from Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild,” seemingly calling the referees “useless” and “stupid.”
Cunningham, who is averaging 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 24.6 minutes per game while shooting 44.5% from the field, 39.8% from three and 86.1% from the free throw line, recently launched a podcast with Summer House’s West Wilson.
On the very first episode of their show called “Show Me Something” with Sophie & West, Cunningham again came to the defense of her teammate.
“You have seen players in our league try to toughen up Caitlin, we call her CC,” Cunningham said. “CC, even when I wasn’t on her team, I know the talks that Phoenix had in the locker room, we’re going to show her what the W really is, you know what I mean.”
What Makes Clark’s Treatment Different From Other Rookies?
Cunningham was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in 2019 and remained in Phoenix until being dealt to the Fever on January 31, 2025 in a four-team trade that also included the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun. This background allowed her to shed light on Clark’s treatment from other teams around the league.
“I get it to a certain extent and like every rookie coming into the league, that’s how you’re going to treat them, but there’s just more for her,” Cunningham added. “So it’s her second year, and now being on her team and seeing it, what are people doing? It’s just too much.”
The most important thing for Clark right now is to get healthy and remain on the court for the Fever. However, it must feel good to know teammates like Cunningham see what she is dealing with and have her back as she navigates these ongoing challenges.
