Last year, when Caitlin Clark was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever, the league witnessed what became known as the “Caitlin Clark effect.” Her arrival dramatically boosted viewership and sent ticket prices soaring across WNBA venues.
Clark’s meteoric rise in popularity was unmistakable. When the Indiana Fever first released her All-Star jerseys in July 2024, the entire inventory vanished in just 15 minutes.
Now, it appears another Fever player is capturing fans’ hearts through a completely different path.
Sophie Cunningham’s In-Game Stunt Wins Over Fans
Following Tuesday’s commanding 88-71 win over the Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has emerged as an unexpected fan favorite.
According to TV host Rachel A. DeMita, Cunningham’s Fanatics Indiana Fever jersey has sold out completely.
Sophie’s jersey is SOLD OUT đŸ”¥ pic.twitter.com/criyV28yDd
— Rachel A DeMita (@RADeMita) June 18, 2025
However, this growth in fan support stems from a controversial moment from the June 17 game.
With just 47 seconds left on the clock, Connecticut’s Jacy Sheldon drove aggressively to the basket. As she leapt for a layup, Cunningham reached over and pulled Sheldon down by her hair. The shocking move stunned the crowd and sparked widespread social media attention.
To many Fever fans, though, it was more than just a foul. It was justice served.
Earlier in the third quarter, Sheldon had made headlines for a physical play of her own. As Clark tried to defend herself, Sheldon appeared to swing her arm outward, poking Clark directly in the eye. So when Cunningham retaliated late in the game, many saw it as standing up for her teammate.
But Cunningham’s bold move didn’t come without consequences. Officials quickly reviewed the play and issued a Flagrant 2 foul, resulting in an immediate ejection.
“Sophie did not grab her and throw her to the ground. She didn’t body-slam her, she didn’t do anything, in my personal opinion. Maybe I’m biased here, but I want to give you guys my straight-up honest opinion on this,” DeMita said during her YouTube review of the game.
“She bearhugged her, took her to the ground. Yes, it was intentional. It was absolutely intentional. It was, for me, a payback for what was happening the entire game,” she added.
Cunningham arrived in Indianapolis in January through a complicated four-team trade that brought her in from the Phoenix Mercury. Indiana’s front office specifically targeted her as a key piece for their anticipated deep postseason run in 2025.
In Tuesday’s win, Cunningham added five points and hauled in seven rebounds, helping lift the team to its sixth victory of the season and a spot in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final.
The Fever may have started the season in Clark’s spotlight, but now Cunningham is carving out a lane of her own.
