The Indiana Fever have spent most of the season defying odds, being the underdogs, and continuing their grind. They’ve been riddled with injuries and setbacks, yet have found ways to stay relevant in the WNBA playoffs. Among those affected have been their star players, Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark.
Cunningham, who tore her MCL in August, has not just been a vocal presence around the team but has stayed closer to Clark. Their connection has been a storyline all year. And now, Cunningham is drawing attention for candid comments on her role, including comparisons to NBA’s Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green.
Sophie Cunningham Draws Comparisons With Draymond Green and Her “Enforcer” Role
Speaking on The Young Man and the Three podcast, Cunningham explained that while she isn’t officially the Fever’s enforcer, she does feel a responsibility to protect Clark.
“I’m not saying I am that role. I promise you I’m not. I had my intrusive thoughts got the best of me one time,” Cunningham said.
“What I was saying [was] giving him his flowers because when you are on a team with a superstar, people do go for them. I don’t care what anyone says, there is a different type of effort and extra-ness to try to maybe get in their head or try to throw them off their rhythm … and a majority of the time those superstars, they don’t have that kind of feisty or sassiness to kind of back themselves up, and they need their teammates to do that.”
Cunningham admitted she has “firsthand seen it this year” with Clark, and her instinct has been to step in when necessary. “Alright, if we’re not going to protect our star, someone has to.”
Is Sophie Cunningham Really An Enforcer and Protector For Caitlin Clark?
The Draymond Green comparison stems from more than just Cunningham’s willingness to defend Clark and others. Like Green, she has been outspoken, often unafraid to call out officiating or offer blunt opinions on league matters.
Her vocal leadership, toughness, and occasional controversy have made her a polarizing but beloved team member.
For Cunningham, her comments, however, were more about appreciating Green’s impact rather than emulating him. “I don’t mind Draymond,” she admitted during the interview. “I was just giving him his flowers.”
Since Clark entered the league in 2024, opponents have targeted her with extra physicality, testing her composure and rhythm time and again. Cunningham, who averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds before her injury, quickly embraced the role of standing by Clark.
Their relationship has become a centerpiece of the Fever’s culture, blending Cunningham’s toughness with Clark’s generational playmaking.
Though her season ended early, Cunningham’s comments only show how committed she is to their equation, even if it means drawing comparisons to one of the NBA’s most notorious enforcers.