The 2025 WNBA season is officially in the books. The Las Vegas Aces have cemented their dynasty after clinching their third championship in four years by defeating the Phoenix Mercury in the Finals. But while the Aces dominated the headlines, another team had been widely projected to challenge them earlier in the season, and it was the Indiana Fever.
Unfortunately, their campaign was derailed by a series of untimely injuries. Now that the dust has settled on the season, Fever forward Sophie Cunningham has reignited discussions about Caitlin Clark’s presence and influence.
What Has Sophie Cunningham Said Regarding Caitlin Clark in a Recent Podcast?
In the latest episode of the “Show Me Something” podcast, Cunningham joined co-host West Wilson in a deep dive on the Fever’s turbulent season. During their conversation, Wilson compared Clark’s importance to that of LeBron James for the Lakers.
Cunningham quickly backed that take and explained that Clark carries a similar kind of influence.
“I think the reason behind that is that those types of athletes get to come into an organization, they have the green light, and they can do whatever they want. Where that is very rare to be able to get drafted and control the whole system,” said Cunningham during the podcast.
Cunningham noted that Clark’s impact goes far beyond her scoring and playmaking. She talked about how Clark’s presence shapes the team’s energy and decision-making.
“Yeah, as she should. When you have a generational talent like that, she should have a lot to say (about) the system,” added Cunningham during the podcast.
There’s no question that Clark’s on-court performance backed up her off-court leadership. Despite missing 31 games throughout the 2025 season due to multiple injuries, which included a leg issue, a left quad strain, and a recurring groin problem, Clark still managed to average 16.5 points, 8.8 assists, and five rebounds per game.
Her absence was deeply felt. It was especially in moments where her scoring would have made the difference. Without Clark, the Fever initially struggled to find their rhythm. But they finished the regular season with a (24-20) record and also clinched a playoff berth.
They defeated the Atlanta Dream in the first round. Still, they stumbled in Game 5 of the semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces. It was after they lost Kelsey Mitchell to a late injury and missed Aaliyah Boston due to a foul.
Many fans and analysts believe that if Clark had been healthy, the Fever could have made a run at the championship. Still, there’s reason for optimism in Indiana. During the Fever’s exit interview, Clark revealed that she expects to be back to full strength by the end of October.
“My goal was the end of October. To kind of be out there and trying to get back to playing 5-on-5. I think that’s a very reasonable thing for me and you know I’ve been grinding as hard as I possibly can,” said Clark during Fever’s exit interview as per Scott Agness.
That update has sparked renewed hope among Fever fans that next season could finally be the one Clark was meant to have. As Cunningham aptly put it, Clark isn’t just another young star, but she’s already the voice that sets the tone for the entire Fever organization.