Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has reignited the conversation surrounding Caitlin Clark’s treatment in the WNBA after claiming the league’s biggest star is being unfairly targeted by opponents.
Her comments came days after a controversial moment during Indiana’s game against the Phoenix Mercury left fans and analysts questioning the league’s officiating.
Caitlin Clark takes a blow to the throat, and officials don’t call a foul
The incident occurred in the second quarter when Clark drove to the basket before falling to the floor. As the ball rolled away, Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with Clark’s throat.
Officials allowed play to continue without calling a foul, but the WNBA later reviewed the sequence, upgraded the play to a Flagrant 2 foul and suspended Thomas for one game.
Speaking on her podcast, Cunningham didn’t hold back, arguing that Clark routinely receives physical treatment that goes beyond normal basketball. She said situations like this happen far too often and believes referees haven’t done enough to protect the former No. 1 overall draft pick.
“Unfortunately, this type of s*** happens every single game to her and the league and the refs do absolutely nothing about it,” said Cunningham.
“If she did that to any of our teammates, we’d be pissed, but like they’re definitely targeting her and the league and the refs do nothing to protect her.”
Cunningham also revealed that neither she nor the rest of Indiana’s players realized what had happened in real time.
“I did not see that happen,” Cunningham said. “None of our team saw it happen, because I promise you if we would have seen that happen, we would’ve had her back.
“Unfortunately, this type of s*** happens every single game to her and the league and the refs do absolutely nothing about it.”
Cunningham also questions league promotion of Clark
Beyond the officiating, Cunningham expressed frustration with the WNBA’s approach to promoting its brightest stars. She criticized the league after Clark was omitted from a recent commemorative graphic celebrating the WNBA, despite being one of the sport’s most recognizable players.
Cunningham argued that Clark should be front and center in the league’s marketing efforts, alongside fellow Fever standouts Kelsey Mitchell and Aaliyah Boston.
She suggested the WNBA is missing an opportunity to capitalize on the popularity of players who consistently attract fans, television viewers and media attention.
“If they were smart they would market this [expletive] out of some of us. They don’t,” Cunningham said.
“That should be Caitlin. That should be Kelsey Mitchell. That should be Aaliyah Boston. Like, why are we putting random players on there? I’m one of them.”
The Fever veteran also addressed another moment from the Mercury game that quickly went viral. During a heated exchange involving former teammate DeWanna Bonner, Cunningham repeatedly pointed in Bonner’s direction before receiving a technical foul.
Laughing about the incident on her podcast, Cunningham insisted she never said anything to warrant the penalty and described the call as one of the weakest technical fouls she’d ever received.
The controversy has sparked reactions from both sidelines. Fever head coach Stephanie White criticized the missed foul on Clark, calling it unacceptable, while Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts questioned the WNBA’s disciplinary process.
Tibbetts argued that the league failed to properly consult those involved before issuing Thomas’ suspension and defended his player’s reputation.