The Indiana Fever’s playoff run has been nothing short of remarkable, especially given the injuries that piled up over the course of the season. While key names like Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham are sidelined, the team has found ways to dig deep and shock the league.
For Cunningham, though, this postseason has meant embracing a very different role, one she never expected but has leaned into fully.
Sophie Cunningham Embraces Life As “Bench Coach”
Speaking on her Show Me Something podcast, Cunningham admitted that being forced to the sidelines with a torn MCLÂ has reshaped her role on the team. Rather than fade into the background, she’s thrown herself into becoming what she calls a “bench coach.”
“That’s something that has actually been huge… Like just having a voice, just doing reminders, just pouring confidence into people,” Cunningham explained. “Because at this point, I think, everyone knows what the other team can do. And now it’s just like, mentally making sure like we’re there.”
Her focus has shifted to the finer details. For her, it is all about boosting teammates’ confidence, reminding them of assignments, and keeping the energy up in tense moments.
“Slight reminders of personnel, slight reminders of things we got to do better. And so last night was huge. Everyone was communicating,” she added.
That communication proved critical as Indiana survived a nail-biter in Game 3 against Atlanta to reach the semifinals, their first since 2015. For Cunningham, being unable to contribute on the floor has been tough, but she’s discovered a new way to lead.
Cunningham Continues To Fuel the Fever’s Underdog Fire
Cunningham’s sideline presence hasn’t been all calm strategy. She’s admitted to sweating and pacing like she was playing herself during the decisive win. Her nerves aside, she always believed the Fever were destined to pull through.
Earlier this week, she shared a candid take on how the league views Indiana’s playoff success. “I think the league is so mad that we won because we’re literally not supposed to be here at all. And that just fuels our fire even more,” Cunningham said.
Her words echo a different reality for a team that nobody thought would come across as winners. ESPN experts and other analysts had written off the Fever after a slew of season-ending injuries, including her own. The team, now called ‘resilient,’ wasn’t expected to survive the first round. Everyone chanted, “Dream in 2.”
And then came the Fever to turn the tables around. They stunned Atlanta and are now set for yet another daunting semifinal clash against the A’ja Wilson-led Las Vegas Aces.
Cunningham’s adjustment here to a different kind of leadership is just a testament to how basketball extends beyond the 48 minutes of scoring and defending.
By leaning into her role as a motivator and communicator, she has remained integral to the Fever’s identity. Head coach Stephanie White’s system thrives on accountability and resilience, and Cunningham has helped carry that message from the sidelines.
As the Fever prepare for the semifinals, the team will look to Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, and Odyssey Sims to carry the load on the floor. But Cunningham’s voice from the bench remains part of their competitive edge. From a scorer to a “bench coach,” she’s proving how a role player can impact a game without even logging a single minute.
