WNBA star Sophie Cunningham made her Indiana Fever debut in May 2025 following a four-team trade deal. The former Phoenix Mercury guard quickly became the loudest on-court supporter of the Fever’s superstar, Caitlin Clark. Cunningham memorably fouled Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon after Sheldon poked Clark in the face, earning an ejection.
The two later became regular courtside fixtures during the Fever’s deep playoff push following season-ending injuries, keeping their on-court friendship in the spotlight throughout the 2025 WNBA season.
Sophie Cunningham Spotlights Caitlin Clark’s Off-Court Personality
US Weekly, the popular celebrity news X page, shared the moment that got people talking, posting that Cunningham was pulling back the curtain on Clark’s off-court personality and describing her as a “normal human” and a “big ole dork.”
The comments came during Cunningham’s appearance on the Like a Farmer podcast with host Pat Spinosa, where she was asked to share her favorite story about Clark. Cunningham did not hesitate.
“First of all, I think she is such a normal human. She truly is, she loves ball. But my favorite story? I don’t even know if I have a favorite story, but she’s just a big old dork,” Cunningham said.
She admitted she had no idea what to expect when she first met Clark, given everything that surrounds her. What she found was someone far more grounded than the attention around her would suggest.
“You kind of go in and you don’t know what to expect because she’s a generational player. She has all this attention and carries it all so well. And I promise you, she’s the biggest dork you’ll ever meet. And so I just love her, love her whole vibe,” Cunningham said.
The friendship was forged quickly but tested by circumstance. Clark battled multiple injuries throughout the 2025 season, including a left quadriceps strain and a right groin injury, which limited her to just 13 games before sidelining her for the final stretch of the year.
Cunningham played in 30 games, averaging 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and one steal per game, before a right knee MCL tear ended her season prematurely as well. The two rarely had extended time on the floor together, which made their bond off of it all the more notable.
Despite the limited on-court playtime, Cunningham proved to be exactly the kind of complementary piece the Fever needed alongside Clark. Her scoring, defensive presence, and willingness to protect her teammate made her one of the more talked-about signings of the 2025 WNBA season. Clark, for her part, averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game before her season ended.
The dynamic between them resonated well beyond Indiana. Clark is one of the most recognizable athletes in the country right now, and Cunningham’s unfiltered personality made their partnership one of the most entertaining storylines in the league last season.
Heading into 2026, Clark is fully healthy and still under her rookie contract with the Fever. Cunningham, however, is a free agent. If she does not return to Indiana, one of the more compelling friendships in recent WNBA history may not get the chance to fully develop on the court.
Given everything the two went through in 2025, that would be a story worth following closely as the offseason unfolds.
