Sophie Cunningham: The “Feisty, Sassy” Enforcer Fighting to Protect Caitlin Clark

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is quickly becoming one of the WNBA’s most talked-about players — not just for her skills on the court but for her fierce competitiveness and willingness to stand up for her teammates.

“I’m just the ultimate competitor,” Cunningham said. “I will outwork anyone, and I think that’s something I can hang my hat on and my teammates can always expect from me.”

This competitive spirit was on full display during a heated June 17 game against the Connecticut Sun. After Sun guard Jacy Sheldon poked Fever superstar Caitlin Clark in the eye, the intensity escalated quickly. Cunningham responded by committing a hard foul on Sheldon, sparking a shoving match that led to the ejection of Cunningham, Sheldon, and Sun guard Lindsay Allen. The Fever ultimately won the game 88-71, but Cunningham’s role as the team’s enforcer had firmly been established.

Cunningham’s toughness — earning her the nickname “the enforcer” — has won the admiration of fans and teammates alike. Her Instagram and TikTok followings each surged past one million after the incident, demonstrating the growing buzz around her persona.

But Cunningham’s physicality isn’t just on the basketball court. She holds a black belt in taekwondo, which she earned at the tender age of six. That discipline and fighting spirit clearly translate into her style of play.

Her competitive roots run deep. Raised on a family farm, Cunningham credits the hard work and teamwork she learned there for shaping the person she is today. “So much of our success goes back to what we learned here,” she said in a University of Missouri feature. “We loved coming out to the farm to help. We found out how to work hard and work together. It made us farm strong.”

Sports run in her blood — her father Jim played football at the University of Missouri, and Cunningham herself once made history as the first female to score points for the school’s football team by kicking extra points. “I was so nervous,” she recalled. “I mean, I’ve never played football before in all my life. Right when I got the ball on the opening kickoff, I couldn’t hear anything. I just put the ball down and kicked it.”

Now, as a vital part of the Fever, Cunningham brings that same grit and determination to the hardwood, fiercely protecting her teammates — especially Caitlin Clark, the league’s brightest star.

For Fever fans, Cunningham’s rise as a “feisty, sassy” enforcer is a sign that their team is ready to battle for every inch, on and off the court.